Swede maintains challenge

Nobody was happier about the Jazztel Spanish Open being held for the first time at San Roque this week than Swede Peter Gustafsson and it showed again today as the 28-year-old continued to challenge for the lead.

Last November Gustafsson won the European tour qualifying school at the Costa del Sol course and on his return yesterday a two-under-par 70 was good enough to put him in a seven-way tie for top spot.

It could have been even better, but the former amateur international found water on the final two holes and bogeyed them both.

Among the early starters this morning Gustafsson once more had to combat a testing wind, but improved to three under par with a two on the 187-yard 14th - his fifth – but followed it with a bogey.

Spain’s Diego Borrego, another of the overnight pacesetters, resumed on the front nine and he birdied the 459-yard second to nose in front at three under.