Colombia’s Oscar Alvarez carded a seven under par 64 to tie for the lead alongside Argentina’s Francisco Ojeda at the Abierto Internacional de Golf II Copa Antioquia, the curtain-raiser for the 2010 European Challenge Tour season.
The two players, members of the Tour de Las Americas, which is co-sanctioning the US $220,000 event with the Challenge Tour, are seven under at the halfway stage. Ojeda got himself in position to retain the outright lead after an eagle at the eighth hole, his 17th, but three-putted the last for bogey.
The co-leaders are only one shot ahead of a trio of players sharing third spot at Club Campestre El Rodeo Sede La Macarena. David Alvarez carded a 69 to be among them, alongside Challenge Tour members Nathan Smith of the United States and Marcus Higley of England.
Oscar Alvarez said: “I felt good as well yesterday, but the putts didn’t fall as nicely as they did today. I knew I needed a good round today, because yesterday’s 71 wasn’t good enough to have a chance.”
The Medellin native started at the tenth and collected six birdies, one eagle and only one bogey to shoot 32 on each nine. The 526-yard par-five eighth has been a favourite of the 27 year old as he has eagled it in both rounds.
Ojeda, who carded a 64 of his own to lead after the opening round, had a tospy-turvy second day with four bogeys and two eagles. “It was an extremely long day,” he said. “I was striking the ball poorly right from the beginning. Although I three-putted twice (at the third and ninth), I feel my putting was quite good.”
Sweden’s Oscar Floren was the another man to record a 64 in the second round, shooting eight birdies and one bogey to make the cut, having been in a precarious position after a 76 in round one.
The cut for the top 60 and ties came at two over par 144 and was made by 74 players. Thirty one of those are at one under or better.
