Peter Hedblom leads by one shot at the Castello Masters Costa Azahar
Peter Hedblom will enter the final two rounds of the Castello Masters Costa Azahar with a one-stroke lead over three players after posting a seven-under 64 today at the Club de Campo del
Mediterraneo in Castellon, Spain.
The 40-year-old Swede carded six birdies, an eagle, and a lone bogey to reach nine-under for the event, one stroke ahead of Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, Italian Matteo Manassero,
and Scotland's Paul Lawrie.
Beginning his round on the 10th hole, Hedblom reached eight-under on the day after making an eagle on the par-five eighth hole. But he missed the fairway on the par-four ninth, finishing
with a bogey.
"I think the longest par putt I had today was a tap-in," said the 40-year-old. "Everything was going close and then one bad tee shot on the last. Still, in the lead with two days to go."
The three-time winner on the European Tour considers this year to be one of his worst in a long time. He is currently ranked 98th on the Race to Dubai standings, his lowest position since
2002. But a win here would vault him into the top-60 in the rankings, qualifying him for the 60-man field at the season-ending Dubai World Championship. And that would put a smile on his face.
"The game hasn't been as solid as it usually is," he said. "Putting, my lines haven't been as good as they usually are but a good finish here and it can be a good year. Two more rounds
like that and I'll be smiling a lot."
In pristine conditions, Fernandez-Castano posted a solid round of 66 on his home soil. Also beginning his round on the 10th hole, the 30-year-old from Madrid made five birdies and no bogeys
on the day. The former British Masters champion said his struggles with the putter seem to be behind him.
"At the moment, believe it or not, I'm quite confident with my putter," he said. "I can see the ball rolling where I want it so it's good. I'm playing well, I'm playing steady golf. Only
one bogey on the first two rounds which is a bit of a surprise for me. Normally my rounds are a bit of a rollercoaster!”
Lawrie, a former British Open champion, was the co-leader after one round but didn’t play well enough to maintain it, shooting a one-under-par 70.
Manassero, only 17 years of age, followed up his solid opening round of 68 with a five-under 66.
Two well-known Spaniards went in opposite directions today. Sergio Garcia, returning to competitive golf after a two-month hiatus, missed the cut after shooting a 73, while Jose Maria
Olazabal made the weekend after carding a 68.
"It's tough for me especially missing the cut here," said Garcia. "The way I putted I feel as though I am back to where I was when I left the game in the summer. It's very frustrating."
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