Day two digest: 2021 Gran Canaria Lopesan Open

Everything you need to know from day two on Gran Canaria.

Olesen got a surprise, the course record was broken - by three players - history was made and Rafa got a grand send off on day two of the 2021 Gran Canaria Lopesan Open.

Here is everything you need to know from round two at Meloneras Golf.

Olsen surprises even himself

Thorbjørn Olesen has had an up and down 2021 so far. A wrist injury meant he was playing his first event of the season this week but that disappointment was easily cancelled out by the birth of his son Cooper in recent weeks. But Cooper's arrival has not given his dad much time to practise, so the Dane admitted he surprised even himself as he shot a course record 61 to get 14 under and lead by one at the halfway stage. "I was not expecting this," he said. "It was an amazing experience and obviously to get a son three or four weeks ago, I didn't have that much practice coming in here, only last week. The expectations were pretty low but it was great fun to be out there yesterday and today and shooting such a good number."

But he's not alone in going low

Olesen broke the record in the morning with his 61. It would be tied two more times before the day was out. Sam Horsfield already has a course record 61 at Close House in the UK but after shooting casual rounds of 58 and 59 last summer, he is a man who can never go low enough. "It was pretty funny," he said. "I told my caddie walking off 17 tee that we needed birdie-eagle finish for a 59. I gave myself a lot of opportunities and I feel like I'm putting really well so lots of hope for the weekend." Connor Syme was the other member of Club 61, carding his lowest European Tour round with an effort that was ten shots lower than his circuit on Thursday. "I've shot eight under quite a few times and I think the best of that would have been 62 in the Scottish a few years ago but nice to notch that by one today," he said.

More records, anyone?

Go on then - one more. A total of 74 players have made the cut this week at five under. That mark is one short of the record set in Gran Canaria at the Canarias Open de España 18 years ago, but the shot total of 135 to make the weekend is the lowest in European Tour history. Sully is one of the men at five under.

Not all pars are equal.......

........but this one is ridiculous. Wil Besseling - take a bow. Wow.

A special day for the Cabrera Bellos

This week's tournament host Rafa Cabrera Bello had a moment to remember at the start of the second round. His father, Rafa Snr, is acting as the announcer on the first tee at Meloneras Golf this week, and after starting on the tenth tee on Thursday, it was finally his turn on Friday afternoon. It was a moment that was made all the more special for the Cabrera Bellos as Rafa recently changed caddies to have his brother Miguel on his bag, making it a true family affair that had his father near to tears. "It's a special occasion actually," said Rafa Snr. "For a second he almost touched my heart but I did my best to stand it. Very, very proud and happy father. Makes you very happy inside."