‘Awesome day’ sees Pablo Larrazabal leading

Spain’s Pablo Larrazabal hailed one of the best rounds of his career after claiming the halfway lead in the Spanish Open at a testing Valderrama.

A level-par 71 was enough to give Larrazabal a two-shot lead over England’s Andrew Johnston as a combination of swirling winds and firm greens sent scores soaring at the notoriously difficult former Ryder Cup venue.

Ireland’s Paul Dunne and Peter Lawrie battled the strong winds to survive the cut.