Copa de Andalucía: Yates lurking in Malaga
Jonathan Yates (GUI) driving at the 6th tee during the first day of the Corrib Oil sponsored Carey Cup matches at Galway Bay Golf Resort on 17 May 2017. Picture by Pat Cashman Photography
Naas ace Jonny Yates shot a second successive 71 to lurk just three shots off the halfway lead in the Copa de Analucía in Malaga.
The former West of Ireland champion made two birdies and a bogey in his one-under-par second round at Real Club de Golf de Guadalmina as Spain's Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra shot a best-of-the-day 67 and Angel Hidalgo a 70 to lead by a shot on five-under from Ignacio de Pineda.
Overnight leader Victor Pastor slipped back to fourth on three under after a 75 but Yates edged closer to the top of the leaderboard in an event where he finished seventh on level par last year.
It was another mixed day for the nine-strong Irish contingent taking part in an event that was a D-strength tournament last year.
With the top 50 and ties who will make the 54-hole cut on eight-over 153, Robert Moran (76, 154), East of Ireland champion Reece Black (77, 154), Jack Madden (80, 156) and Anthony McDaid (79, 161) need good days on Thursday.
Kilkenny's Luke Donnelly had six birdies in an 80 with his day summed up by a quintuple bogey eight at the 166-metre 14th and a triple bogey eight at the 16th.
He's tied with Rosslare's John Brady (75) and Castleknock's Paul Coughlan (80) on seven-over 151 while Naas' Rob Brazill (78) and Elm Park's Charlie Denvir (80) are a shot further back in a tie for 45th on eight-over-par.
Copa Analucía, Real Club de Golf de Guadalmina, Malaga (Par 72)
1 EUGENIO LOPEZ-CHACARRA COTO -3.4 72 67 139 -5
2 ANGEL HIDALGO PORTILLO -3.5 69 70 139 -5
3 IGNACIO DE PINEDA LUGSTENMANN -0.7 70 70 140 -4
4 VICTOR PASTOR RUFIAN -3.5 66 75 141 -3
5 JONATHAN YATES -3.2 71 71 142 -2
6 ALVARO VEIGA PEÑA -2.1 72 71 143 -1
7 JORGE MAICAS REDONDO -2.0 69 75 144 PAR
8 QUIM VIDAL MORA -0.4 74 71 145 +1
9 ASIER AGUIRRE IZCUE -2.1 74 71 145 +1
10 EDUARD ROUSAUD SABATE -1.8 72 73 145 +1
40 JOHN BRADY -2.2 76 75 151 +7
41 LUKE DONNELLY -2.2 71 80 151 +7
44 PAUL COUGHLAN -4.2 71 80 151 +7
49 ROB BRAZILL -1.9 74 78 152 +8
50 CHARLIE DENVIR -1.8 72 80 152 +8
58 ROBERT MORAN -1.3 78 76 154 +10
59 REECE BLACK -1.7 77 77 154 +10
64 JACK MADDEN -1.3 76 80 156 +12
77 ANTHONY MCDAID -1.2 82 79 161 +17