Spanish Open: Jimenez makes early move

Spanish Ryder Cup star Miguel Angel Jimenez ignored some unsavoury early conditions to move to three under on the second morning of the Via Digital Spanish Open in Valencia.

The 37-year-old birdied the first and third to close to within five shots of overnight leader Andrew Oldcorn, who tees off this afternoon.

After yesterday’s brilliant sunshine, the players were met with a miserable drizzle at the El Saler course early on, but that did not stop several players improving their positions.

Englishman Ian Garbutt birdied the sixth to move to five under and a tie for third place.

Gordon Brand Jnr picked up strokes at the second and third holes to reach three under.

And veteran Irishman Eamonn Darcy picked up shots at the first, second and fourth holes to immediately cancel his arrears from yesterday’s 75, although bogeys at the sixth and eighth dropped him back to two over.

Other early movers on the board were Spain’s Francis Valera and Swede Robert Karlsson, who had both improved to five under.