Blake Windred posted a seven under par round of 65 to claim a share of the Challenge de España lead with Lucas Vacarisas at the halfway stage at Iberostar Real Club de Golf Novo Sancti Petri.
First round leader Vacarisas added a three under par round of 69 to his opening 64 to retain a share of the advantage after 36 holes, while Kristof Ulenaers, one of the European Challenge Tour’s newest stars, being joined by four players in a tie for third place on ten under par after carding a pair of 67s over the first two days.
Australian Windred posted five birdies and an eagle in his superb second round and the 23-year-old is hoping to take advantage of his invite to play in this week’s event.
“I have been lucky enough to have a couple of invites and play pretty much every week for the last six weeks,” he said. “I am trying to make the most of those invites and play some good golf and hopefully I can stay out here.
“It is a different kind of game playing week in week out with some of the best players in the world. Honestly, I think some of the best players out here are going to be top ten players in the world.
“I do not have a ticket booked home yet. It is pretty expensive heading back to the old Australia and then 14 days in a hotel room in isolation doesn’t sound too good. My plan is to just play some good golf and hope it is over by the time I head home.”
Spain’s Vacarisas battled hard to maintain share of the lead on a day when he did not find the rhythm he enjoyed during his opening round of 64.
“It was tougher today,” he said. “The day was not how I planned it but I worked hard out on the golf course and finally I shot three under. I didn’t strike the ball so well today but my putting was there. On some par fives I was a bit wayward but it feels good to be at the top.
“I made a lot of bogeys today. Sometimes I played a good shot and still made a bogey but on the other hand I also hit some really bad shots today. I will keep going because I feel good, and tomorrow is another day so we will see what happens.”
Joining Ulenaers in a tie for third on ten under par is Switzerland’s Jeremy Freiburghaus, New Zealander Daniel Hillier, France’s Frederic Lacroix and Irishman Conor Purcell.
Eight players share a tie for eighth place on nine under par, including D+D Real Czech Challenge winner Santiago Tarrio, who posted a sublime eight under par round of 64 to move into the mix.
The third round of the Challenge de España will get under way at 8:00am local time, with Windred and Vacarisas being joined by Daniel Hillier at 11:45am.
