MADRID, October 7, 2011 (AFP) - England's Lee Slattery, who is battling to keep his tour card, opened up a one-shot lead at the halfway stage of the Madrid Masters on Friday.
The 33-year-old lost his card by just 77 euros in 2007 and faces another tense conclusion to the season, but a six under par 66 for a tournament score of 11 under at least settled some nerves.
He mastered the windy conditions and to finish one ahead of Italian Francesco Molinari and Eduardo De La Riva of Spain.
"I got off to a good start, I was two under early and just kept it together and had a nice finish, birdied the last two holes," said Slattery.
"It’s mainly down to putting, I’ve putted well today, and I seemed to hole everything. I drove the ball well - on this course you can give it a good smack off the tee and you feel yourself trying to hit it harder and harder.
"I was actually getting too cautious with my game but round here you can’t be, you just whack it. This suits me because I just enjoy it and don't think too much - that’s the key. I’ve been so relaxed out there, I don’t think I’ve ever walked off the course feeling so relaxed after shooting a 66."
Ryder Cup player Molinari carded a five under par 67 with six birdies and a solitary bogey while De La Riva, who is yet to finish in the top 10 of a European Tour event, matched his opening 67 to share second place.
Overnight leader and 2009 champion Ross McGowan followed his blistering opening 64 with a level par 72 to remain eight under, with world number one and defending champion Luke Donald amongst those on six under.
Leading and selected Madrid Masters second round scores at the El Encin Golf Hotel on Friday (GBR and IRL unless stated, par 72):
133 - Lee Slattery 67-66
134 - Francesco Molinari (ITA) 67-67, Eduardo De La Riva (ESP) 67-67
135 - Lorenzo Gagli (ITA) 65-70
136 - Brett Rumford (AUS) 65-71, Ross McGowan 64-72
137 - Oliver Wilson 68-69, Tano Goya (ARG) 67-70
138 - Steve Webster 67-71, Luke Donald 68-70, Carlos Rodiles (ESP) 70-68, Jason Knutzon (USA) 70-68, Cesar Monasterio (ARG) 68-70, Oscar Floren (SWE) 69-69
139 - Peter Hanson (SWE) 67-72, Mikko Korhonen (FIN) 71-68, Seve Benson 71-68, Alvaro Quiros (ESP) 67-72, Edoardo Molinari (ITA) 66-73, Graeme Storm 67-72
140 - Thomas Aiken (RSA) 71-69, Richard McEvoy 69-71, Thomas Norret (DEN) 68-72, Marc Warren 72-68, Matt Haines 71-69, Ignacio Garrido (ESP) 68-72, Gonzalo Fdez-Castano (ESP) 65-75, Bradley Dredge 67-73
141 - Carlos Del Moral (ESP) 70-71, Mark Tullo (CHI) 68-73, Gareth Maybin 69-72, Matteo Manassero (ITA) 71-70, Jaco Van Zyl (RSA) 70-71, Alfredo Garcia-Heredia (ESP) 70-71, Tim Sluiter (NED) 71-70, Benjamin Hebert (FRA) 69-72, Marcus Fraser (AUS) 70-71
Selected
142 - Matthew Zions (AUS) 70-72, Paul McGinley 72-70
143 - Daniel Gaunt (AUS) 75-68, George Coetzee (RSA) 73-70, Paul Lawrie 72-71
Missed cut
144 - James Kingston (RSA) 71-73, Mark Brown (NZL) 71-73, Keith Horne (RSA) 72-72
145 - Wade Ormsby (AUS) 72-73
146 - Hennie Otto (RSA) 72-74, Jose-Maria Olazabal (ESP) 71-75
147 - Michael Campbell (NZL) 73-74, Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 69-78
148 - Shiv Kapur (IND) 76-72, Scott Strange (AUS) 74-74
150 - John Daly (USA) 76-74