Angel Hidalgo fired 63 to sit in a three-way lead after round two of the Andalucia Masters at Valderrama on Friday.
Hidalgo carded eight birdies, including seven in a nine-hole stretch around the turn, for a nine-under-par total of 133 to sit alongside fellow Spaniard Adrian Otaegui and Australia’s Min-Woo Lee.
First-round co-leader Lee, who finished second in Valderrama last year and was third in the Spanish Open on Sunday, added a 67 to his opening-round 66, with an eagle, three birdies and one bogey.
Otaegui made it a three-way tie late in the day, with six birdies and one bogey in his 66.
“A 63 is a dream score and I’m so happy,” said Hidalgo. “I started the day hitting it so badly on the range, but I just tried to put the ball in the fairway on the first few holes and started to take some confidence. I made every putt today and that was the key.”
The leading trio have a three-shot lead over Sweden’s Joakim Lagergren, with Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre and Spain’s Sebastian Garcia Rodriguez another stroke back on five under.
South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence is on four under (T7) after rounds of 69 and 69.
Defending champion Matt Fitzpatrick missed the halfway cut after a second consecutive 74 to finish six over par, but the US Open champion’s younger brother Alex advanced on level par.
© Agence France-Presse
