| Hedblom, Millar share Andalucia lead
Peter Hedblom shot a five-under 67 and Matthew Millar had a three-under 69 on Friday to share the second-round lead at the European Tour's Open de Andalucia.
Hedblom and Millar were knotted at eight-under 136 for a one-shot lead over Robert Dinwiddie (65), Thomas Levet (68) and David Lynn (67).
Defending champion and first-round leader Lee Westwood led a group of seven players who were another shot further back at six-under 138. Westwood stumbled to a 73 on Friday after opening with a 65 in the first round to take a one- shot lead.
Bradley Dredge (68), Pelle Edberg (68), Oliver Fisher (68), Michael Jonzon (69), Maarten Lafeber (70) and Jan-Are Larsen (72) were also at 138.
Hedblom moved up from a tie for 10th place overnight into a share of the lead with a round that included three birdies and an eagle at the 510-yard fifth hole.
Three weeks after he missed a chance to repeat as champion in Malaysia when he lipped out a birdie putt on the 72nd hole -- he eventually lost in a playoff to Arjun Atwal -- Hedblom declared himself happy with his putting.
The 38-year-old Swede needed just 28 putts to navigate the Aloha Golf Club layout on Friday.
"I am having a good year this season and that is really all down to my putting, which is a lot better than it used to be," said Hedblom, a two-time European Tour winner. "Putting really has been the weakness of my career but now I seem to be making those putts for par as well as the occasional one for birdie."
In addition to his eagle at No. 5, Hedblom made two birdies on the front nine in his second round. He added another birdie at the 13th to get to eight- under.
"My putting stats were never that good in the past. For instance, I was never in the top 100 over the past few years, but I am now, which is good," Hedblom said. "Hopefully I can keep this going."
Hedblom was joined in the lead late in the day by Millar, who played in one of the last groups out on the course. Millar fell out of a tie for the lead when an errant drive at the 16th led to a bogey, but he rebounded with a birdie at the 18th.
He ended with five birdies and two bogeys, taking at least a share of the 36- hole lead for the first time on the European Tour.
Jose Maria Olazabal, playing this week for the first time since the PGA Championship, had a 72 on Friday and was one shot inside the even-par cut line.
Olazabal is battling back pain.
"To be honest, swinging the club is not the most painful part, it is walking and bending to the ball which is hard," he said. "But I am delighted to have made the cut as I certainly didn't expect this after having been out for such a long time."
Darren Clarke and Thomas Bjorn were among the players who missed the cut. |