Grant Forrest continued his good record at Real Club de Campo Villa de Madrid to take a one-stroke lead into the weekend at the Open de España presented by Madrid.
The Scot has twice finished tied third in Spain’s national open, in 2021 and 2024, and has never missed the cut across his six previous appearances.
He held a share of the lead after a first-round 67 and he backed it up with a 68 on Friday to reach nine under, with countryman Connor Syme and Switzerland's Joel Girrbach as his nearest challengers.
Eugenio Chacarra, who is playing on home soil with a fractured toe, and Joe Dean are both at eight under, with Danish duo Jacob Skov Olesen and Jeff Winther a shot further back, alongside French pair Martin Couvra and Victor Perez and New Zealand's Daniel Hillier.
Patrick Reed, who has led the Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World since February, missed the cut and Chacarra will leapfrog both Rory McIlroy and the American with a victory on Sunday.
Eddie Pepperell, who is in need of Race to Dubai points to preserve his playing rights next season, was among those to make the cut on the number at one over after birdieing his final hole in a battling 70.
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