The aptly-named Edouard Espana holds a one shot lead at the halfway stage of the Open de España after a day of testing conditions at Real Club de Golf El Prat.
The Challenge Tour graduate, who until this week had only broken 70 once in his rookie European Tour campaign, added a second round 69 to his opening 68 for a seven under par total.
That was one ahead of Argentine Ricardo Gonzalez, with Northern Ireland’s Michael Hoey and South African Darren Fichardt a shot further back.
Defending champion Miguel Angel Jiménez had his second hole-in-one of the season, and the ninth of his European Tour career, on the eighth, but the 51 year old came home in 39 to find himself six shots off the pace after a round of 71.
It spoke volumes about the blustery conditions in Barcelona that World Number Seven Sergio Garcia was two shots outside the projected cut mark on three over when he completed his round of 72 in the morning, but made the weekend with a shot to spare and finds himself only ten off the lead.
The 25 year old Espana had seven top-ten finishes on the Challenge Tour last term, but is yet to finish better than 35th having made the step up to The European Tour.
“The level of tournaments is high on Tour so it’s difficult, but I will try and keep going,” he said.
“I played really well today because it’s very windy. I played really good and I’m really happy.
Espana had an early bogey at the second cancelled out with a bogey on the third, but after picking up another shot at the seventh stayed patient and holed a 40 footer on the 14th before pitching to tap-in range on the 15th.
Asked about leading a tournament that he shares his name with, Espana added: “I’m leading an open with my name everywhere, so it’s very cool!
“My family is from Spain – that’s why my name is Espana. It’s really good, my cousins are here this week.”
Gonzalez is a four-time European Tour winner, with half his titles coming on Spanish soil and his most recent victory occurring six years ago in Sweden.
But having not had a top-ten finish since 2013, he was forced to return to Qualifying School last November where he finished second to earn an 18th season on The European Tour.
A second consecutive 69 gave the 45 year old the lead for much of the afternoon until Espana’s strong finish, and afterwards Gonzalez said: “I’m happy with my game; two rounds of 69 in these windy conditions is a great score.
“I would prefer to have it playing tough over the weekend because it advantages the longer hitters and those who are striking the ball well; I find myself in that category this week.
“I love playing in Spain, I have good friends here, and the food is good, like in Argentina, so I feel at home.
“I get on very well with all my Spanish colleagues, so it would be nice to make the youngsters work a bit. Many people support me here, so I will try to give them a good show.
“I had a wonderful week in Q-School and it gave me the chance to be here today. Last year was a hard year - that’s golf when your mind is not there. This year I’m focusing more on my game.”
Hoey added a 68 to his opening 71, with Fichardt also five under after a 73.
Fichardt carded a superb 66 in the tougher afternoon conditions on Thursday and moved into a two shot lead with a hat-trick of birdies from the fifth, but dropped four shots in the space of six holes from the tenth to come home in 40.
Overnight leader and fellow South African Trevor Fisher Jnr was also found the going tough, birdieing the last for a 78 to be one under at the halfway stage.
Jimenez’s ace equalled the European Tour record of Colin Montgomerie.
The Tour’s oldest winner earned 288 bottles of beer for his hole-in-one, which came when his six-iron pitched around 15 feet short of the pin and rolled perfectly into the hole.
