Park makes early running

Welshman David Park made the biggest move of the early starters in the second round of the Turespana Majorca Classic this morning.

Park birdied the first three holes at Pula Golf Club to improve to three under par and three shots off the lead held by Ireland’s Damien McGrane.

McGrane was among the later starters, along with second placed Jose Maria Olazabal, the double Masters champion carding a flawless four under par 66 on Thursday.

Olazabal was making a rare appearance on the European Tour with the aim of securing his place in the season-ending Volvo Masters at Valderrama in a fortnight’s time.

Under new qualification criteria, only the top 60 on the Order of Merit qualify and Olazabal began the week in 60th place with only this event and next week’s Madrid Open remaining.

Park, who lost a play-off in his first ever European Tour event in 1999 and then won the following week, also had the Volvo Masters in his sights, the 29-year-old currently occupying 62nd place on the money list.

Park also birdied the par five sixth and after three pars took him to the turn in 31, picked up another shot on the 12th to move to five under and one shot off the lead.

He was not alone in making the most of the improved conditions today however, with sunshine replacing the wind and rain.

Kent’s Benn Barham had recovered from dropping two shots in his first three holes with a hat-trick of birdies from the sixth to lie three under.

And he was joined on that mark by Yorkshire’s Ben Mason who had birdied the first and fifth to move within three shots of McGrane’s lead.

Pre-tournament favourite Lee Westwood was among the later starters and likely to need a sub-par round the make the cut.

Westwood, seeking his third win in eight weeks after going almost three years without a victory, could only manage a two over par 72 yesterday which left him right on the predicted cut mark.