Home favourite Carlota Ciganda shot a second-round 66 to go along with her first round of 70 to take a one-shot lead after 36 holes in the 600,000 euro Andalucia Open de Espana played over the Los Naranjos course in Marbella.
The 31-year-old, 48th in the rankings and winner of the LET’s 2012 Order of Merit had a round of four birdies and an eagle three on hole 14.
Chasing Ciganda in second place is fellow home player Fatima Fernandez Cano, who was the co-leader after round one and received one of the eight tournament invites. Three of the top seven players are from the host country.
There was a redraw after round one with leaders out last in threeballs for round two. Dubai-based Alison Muirhead of Scotland played her second round with the 2021 Race to Costa del Sol champion Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand and Finn Merit Ursula Wikstrom.
Muirhead shot a three-over par 75 to be three-over and must be looking to recover from her back nine holes of 39.
Muirhead’s target will be to finish in the top 60 of the Race to Costa del Sol Rankings to provide her with full playing rights for the 2022 LET season, with her current standing at No. 83.
Thitikul shot a 70 to be tied eighth and Wikstrom a 68 to move up to fourth.
The four-round tournament sees play on Saturday in threeballs in the third round with no cut.
Muirhead will be playing her third round at 10.26am off the 10th tee with Beatriz Recari of Spain and Wales’ Lydia Hall.
