Only seven players posted under par rounds on day two of the Challenge de España as Mikael Lindberg navigated the high winds to take the lead at Iberostar Real Club de Golf Novo Sancti Petri.
The overnight lead stood at six under par and Lindberg teed it up three shots back but with the wind swirling, the Swede posted a one over par round of 73 to move to two under par and head into the weekend with a one stroke lead over Spain’s Pedro Oriol, who is the only other player under par after 36 holes.
Red numbers were at a premium on day two, with Germany’s Bernd Ritthammer carding the low round of the day with a 68, and Lindberg was pleased to escape with a one over par effort.
“The conditions today were brutal,” he said. “The wind was so strong from the morning so it’s been a tough day. I think there are only a couple of guys under par, so it’s been a tough day for everyone.
“I think it’s probably the strongest wind I’ve ever played in. I managed to keep the ball in play. I hit a couple of good tee shots out there and I actually made a couple of chips as well, so that helps a lot.
“In these conditions, 16, 17 and 18 are played straight into the wind and it’s a really tough finish. I think I was three over for the last four holes. It’s a tough finish, I don’t feel bad about that.
“I started early yesterday and there was zero wind and it was very comfortable but then the wind picked up on the back nine and it was pretty windy in the afternoon. I think my draw this week has been pretty good.”
Seven players share third place on level par, including Ritthammer and his playing partner Jonathan Thomson, of England, fellow Englishman Mitch Waite, Ireland’s Conor Purcell, Portugal’s Pedro Figueiredo, Spaniard Victor Pastor and Switzerland’s Benjamin Rusch.
Belgium’s Christopher Mivis, who is third on the Road to Mallorca Rankings, carded a hole-in-one on the 208-yard par three 18th hole, however missed the cut by one in Cádiz.
The cut fell at seven over par, with 67 players surviving to compete over the weekend. Leader Lindberg will tee it up in the final group at 10:50am local time.
