VALENCIA, Spain, April 19, 2013 (AFP) - In a three-way tie for second are Chilean Felipe Aguilar, France's Raphael Jacquelin, who shot a superb 66, and Swede Rikard Karlberg, this trio on five under 139 at the Parador de El Saler course.
Jacquelin was all smiles after putting together the round of the day with seven birdies, saying: "I am very pleased with the way I played.
"I have been patient and it paid today; that's the game of golf. I am very pleased six under, especially on this course - which is not easy."
Aguilar, who is aiming for only his second European Tour win and first since 2008, had a share of the overnight lead.
He carded a 71, picking up his lone birdie on the par five third.
Home favourite Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, following last week's impressive effort at the Masters in Augusta when he finished 10 shots off the pace, shot a disappointing 73 to be placed two under overall.
"I didn't play as good as yesterday but overall I'm in a good position for the weekend," he said.
Miguel Angel Jimenez, playing his 599th tour event on his return to action after breaking his leg skiing in December, could only add a 74 to his opening 76 to miss the cut, while defending champion Francesco Molinari - suffering from a back injury - also bowed out after finishing seven over.
Leading and selected second round scores in the European Tour's Spanish Open on Friday (GBR/IRL unless stated, par 72):
138 - Peter Uihlein (USA) 70-68
139 - Felipe Aguilar (CHI) 68-71, Rikard Karlberg (SWE) 72-67, Raphael Jacquelin (FRA) 73-66
140 - Craig Lee 69-71, Marc Warren 70-70, Eddie Pepperell 70-70, Andreas Harto (DEN) 73-67, Morten Orum Madsen (DEN) 68-72
141 - Lasse Jensen (DEN) 71-70, Tommy Fleetwood 72-69, David Howell 70-71, Matthew Baldwin 73-68
142 - Robert Jan Derksen (NED) 69-73, Paul Casey 72-70, Alvaro Velasco (ESP) 71-71, Mark Tullo (CHI) 71-71, Paul Waring 71-71, Matteo Delpodio (ITA) 73-69,
Gonzalo Fdez-Castano (ESP) 69-73, Julien Quesne (FRA) 72-70
143 - Carlos Aguilar (ESP) 71-72, Anders Hansen (DEN) 72-71, Maximilian Kieffer (GER) 75-68, Richard Finch 70-73, Espen Kofstad (NOR) 71-72, Ignacio Garrido
(ESP) 72-71, Nacho Elvira (ESP) 71-72, Edoardo Molinari (ITA) 70-73
Selected:
145 - Tjaart Van Der Walt (RSA) 73-72, Sergio Garcia (ESP) 72-73, Richard Green (AUS) 73-72
Missed cut:
147 - Matthew Zions (AUS) 73-74, Justin Walters (RSA) 71-76
148 - Scott Arnold (AUS) 74-74
149 - Bjorn Akesson (SWE) 75-74, Jbe Kruger (RSA) 76-73
150 - Miguel Angel Jimenez (ESP) 76-74
151 - Andrew Dodt (AUS) 77-74
155 - Jose-Maria Olazabal (ESP) 76-79, Michael Campbell (NZL) 77-78
160 - Daniel Gaunt (AUS) 82-78