• Open de Espana, Round Two

Manassero keeps calm in tough conditions

Matteo Manassero lines up a putt © Getty Images

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Young Italian Matteo Manassero played himself ominously into contention after another solid round at the Open de Espana on Friday.

Manassero, who has three top ten finishes in nine events to date in 2012 and finished second on his last appearance in Spain (at the Andalucia Masters), added a second successive round of 70 at Real Club de Golf de Sevilla to put himself firmly in the hunt for a first win of the year over the weekend.

"It wasn't an easy day and I'm happy because I didn't really play that well but managed to score," said Manassero. "Today I took the right side of the draw. Early morning we just had a little breeze and it's certainly going to be more difficult in the afternoon.

"I didn't play really well, but never put myself in serious trouble. I've scrambled well, I made some good up and downs at the beginning of my back nine, but the last four or five holes I started playing very good golf well and that gives me some confidence.

"I'm really happy to be in contention, to be around the lead, and we shall see what happens."

That put Manassero level with Simon Dyson - the highest ranked player in the field this week - and one shot behind early leader Gregory Bourdy, who slipped in at five-under for 36 holes after a blistering second round of 66 that defied another day of wet and windy playing conditions.

"I'm very happy about this round, particularly in these conditions," said Bourdy, who finished with four birdies in six holes. "Yesterday one over was not so bad in that wind, but today I played really well, I felt comfortable and very solid, very consistent and I also made some important putts, so I'll try to keep going like this."

Robert Rock, who claimed the HSBC Abu Dhabi Golf Championship against Tiger Woods earlier in the season, is also four-under after his second round 72, a pattern of play that was matched by Spaniard Jorge Campillo.

The English pair of Graeme Storm and Danny Willett are both three-under - a score matched by Francisco Molinari late in the day - with Gary Orr and Matthew Baldwin rounding out the top ten a shot further back.

Overnight leader Shaun Micheel slipped back after a second round 77, but at least he will be playing at the weekend - with former European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie and Miguel Angel Jimenez among those set to miss the business end of the tournament.

The defending champion, Thomas Aiken, will play the weekend despite a second round of 76. He is three-over, a score matched by Jose Maria Olazabal as he too will play the full 72 holes.

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