Peter Hedblom leads, Matteo Manassero making ground at Castelló Masters
Peter Hedblom took the clubhouse lead at the second round of the Castelló Masters this afternoon, holding off Italy's teenage sensation Matteo Manassero, amongst others, by a single stroke.
Hedblom is nine-under-par for the tournament after coming home seven-under earlier today. The Swede shot six birdies before producing an eagle on his penultimate hole, the 8th, thus setting himself up for a potentially barnstorming finish - only to bogey the final hole at Valencia's Club de Campo Del Mediterráneo.
Manassero managed seven birdies today, but a couple of bogeys prevented the 17-year-old from joining Hedblom at the top of the table. Instead, with a round of five-under today, he is tied with yesterday's leader Paul Lawrie, who could only finish one-under . That was enough to keep the Scot in contention, along with Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño, with the Madrid-born player coming home five-under today. The three are tied for second place.
José María Olazábal is easing his way back into competition with just his second start of the year, but Olazábal looks likely to at least make the cut, his stated objective before the beginning of the tournament. The 44-year-old, whose career has been blighted by arthritis in recent years, improved upon yesterday's two-over-par 73 to come home three-under today, one-under for the competition.
That was better than his compatriot Sergio Garcia. After a two month break from the game, earlier this week Garcia had spoken of rediscovering his passion, but today the 30-year-old's play evinced all the excitement of a wet weekend in Skegness.
Still, Garcia could have made the cut, maintaining level par until the 17th when a double bogey saw him finish . That will surely see El Nino saying "Adios," at the end of today's round, with Garcia two-over both for the day and the tournament.
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