Angel Hidalgo shot 67 in the second round of the 2024 Spanish Open in Madrid to lead by four strokes.
The home hope was in equally impressive fashion to reach 10 under after an opening 65 and move past England's Joe Dean at six under. chaser.
Three-time champion Jon Rahm fell further behind in a group of five players.
Hidalgo's string of birdies began on the 10th, and although he came back with a birdie on the 12th – a signature lunging tee shot that found the right rough – he added another on the 14th. Made progress and got back on track.
Further birdies on the second and eighth holes gave him a double-digit under par 34 in the championship.
Although he was only two strokes apart between the rounds — 13 shots shy of Hoshino Rikuya, who shot 62 after a 77 to close on the course record — and led both days, Hidalgo said: “I would say, completely different.
“I've told my caddy that I felt every shot I hit today. Yesterday, I was completely blind and I just hit the ball and I don't know why it hit the pin directly.
“But I played really well today. Two bad drivers ended the round in fourth and seventh, which was probably a birdie opportunity for me on the back nine, but I'm very happy with the way I played. satisfy.”
Dean had two eagles in an impressive 65 rounds, including a chip shot on the fourth hole.
After five birdies and three bogeys, he said: “It was great, it felt a little scrappy in places but overall it was a good day.
“The par 5s have been pretty good to me, just some subtle hands the past two days. I think I rubbed some of the 'Spanish hands' off. Great chip.”
Rahm also made an eagle on the fourth hole to help him shoot a two-under 69 that also included four birdies and four bogeys.
He said: “It was a bit frustrating to play so well in the wind yesterday and not take advantage of the easier conditions today – especially my first 11 holes, which had almost no wind.
“Everything felt a level or two below where I wanted it to feel. There were a couple of times where I was rejuvenated by the eagle putt, but just made a few too many mistakes.”
He was tied with compatriot Alfredo Garcia-Heredia, Frenchman Julien Guerrier, England's Sam Bairstow and American Ryder Cup star Patrick Reed on the sub-par mark Five strokes.
Two other Spanish players, Adri Arnauz and David Puig, are tied at 4 under with England's Tommy Fleetwood and American Jimmy Walker.
Fleetwood was unlucky on the ninth hole, with his tee shot hitting the base of the pin completely but bouncing more than 50 feet from where he three-putted for bogey.
He had just one birdie and bogey the rest of the way and said: “It started really well, but it ended up being a little frustrating. The break on No. 9 was bad, if you will.”
“It wasn't the worst position to be in, but after such a hot start, I felt like I was playing pretty well and it was a little frustrating not to shoot a better score. But that's golf.”
Spanish amateur Luis Masaveu made the cut at 2 under, while the day's match belonged to Japan's Hoshino, who had 10 birdies, including one from the 14th hole. He made six consecutive birdies on the second hole and added three more in a row before bogeying the ninth. .
Jens Fahrbring provided another highlight of the day with a hole-in-one on the 208-yard 11th hole to help the Swede move to one under for the round and championship. score.
