Spaniards on the rampage in the third round Open de Andalucía: Live Leaderboard
Some 70 players have made it through the halfway mark of the star-studded Open de Andalucía and the third round is currently underway at the scenic Aloha Golf Club, Costa del Sol, Spain.
Overnight leader Eduardo de la Riva has still to tee-off for his third round while many of the trailing golfers have already finished their nine holes on the warm and sunny day.
Spaniards have taken over the grizzled field for the moment as several of the Spanish players have now surged to the top of the leaderboard, utilising their home-course advantage.
Borja Etchart pulled in a string of no fewer than five birdies on the front nine to shoot right into contention of the first leg of the European Tour event in continental Europe.
Starting off his third round with a birdie on the second hole, Etchart fell for a bogey on the next and decided to take on the offensive for the remaining holes on the front. He is now poised at joint second, just one shot away from De la Riva.
Meanwhile Alejandro Canizares, another of the young Spanish brigade, surged to the top with his blistering knock on the front with three birdies.
He made the turn to card two more before he fell for a disastrous double-bogey five to lose his grasp. He made up the loss with another birdie right on the next hole and is currently playing for the remaining four holes.
Irishman Shane Lowry also had a brilliant day on the front when he started off his round early in the afternoon. Pulling in a birdie on the second hole, Lowry carded a stunning eagle at par-four, 3rd to shoot right into contention.
He carded another birdie on the very next hole and dropped just one shot on the eighth hole on the front. 24-year-old Lowry is hoping to retain his European Tour card after consecutive poor performances in the last three years.
Frenchman Gregory Bourdy also pulled in a stunning eagle earlier in the morning when he started off his third round bid at Aloha GC. He is currently poised at joint 20th and has still to complete the final six holes on the back nine.
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