Rodiles leads the way in qualifying

Carlos Rodiles continued his recovery from personal anguish to top the leaderboard after round two of the European Tour’s qualifying school final at San Roque.

Rodiles, runner-up in the 2003 Volvo Masters at nearby Valderrama, birdied eight of his first nine holes for an outward half of 28.

The 31-year-old eventually signed for a 64 to lie 10 under, two ahead of Norway’s Eirik Tage Johansen and former European Tour winner Warren Bennett.

Rodiles endured a miserable year away from the golf course in 2005 as his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, his parents separated after 25 years of marriage and his wife almost suffered a miscarriage while pregnant.

Having lost his tour card amid all the distractions, Rodiles returned to the kind of form that took him to the fringes of the top 20 in Europe two years ago as he carded the lowest nine-hole score of his career.

“Last year was a very tough year for me off the golf course but both my mother and baby are okay now,” he said.

“All of this happened within a couple of months so my mind wasn’t on the golf. I tried to come back but it was too late, so I decided to ake some swing changes and get some help.

“I’ve been playing well over the past five months and my confidence is very high. I’ve never had nine holes like that before however.”

Bennett, the winner of the tour’s Scottish PGA championship in 1999, maintained his impressive start with a 67 to lie eight under.

He joined Johansen in a share of second place after the Norwegian youngster posted a 71.

Essex teenager Oliver Fisher also cemented his place on the upper reaches of the leaderboard, adding a two-under 70 to his opening 68 for a share of fourth place.