(Reuters) - Argentine Daniel Vancsik produced another display of strength and power at the Open de Madrid Valle Romano to catch the early leader Alejandro Cañizares of Spain at the halfway stage.
A spectacular eagle helped Vancsik, the first round leader and Madeira Islands Open BPI winner in March, to a second round of two under 70 at the Real Sociedad Hipica Española Club de Campo to sit alongside Cañizares, who had earlier carded a 66, on nine under 135.
The pair lead England’s Gary Lockerbie (68) by a stroke, with Frenchman Jean Van de Velde (66) and Francis Valera of Spain (67) a further shot back.
Vancsik's eagle, a drive and a mere eight iron approach to only two feet at the 533 yard tenth hole, signalled the end to a faltering front nine of one over-par.
After adding a late birdie the 30 year old, in only his second full season on the European Tour, was in the mood to tackle any opponent at the weekend.
"I feel I belong on The EuropeanTour now," said Vancsik. “I needed more time to get used to life on The European Tour and to begin to feel comfortable.
“I used to watch Ernie Els and people like that on TV and be in awe of them, and it was difficult to get my head round the fact that I was playing alongside these guys. Then I won in Madeira which was a big thing for me, but it has still taken the last five months for me to really believe that I can compete with guys like Ernie Els at the top level.
“I think I can, and I feel that I can do it. I am not nervous of them or scared anymore and you can see that when I play now. I feel at home here now.”
Cañizares, the son of Jose Maria Cañizares, the man whose putt ensured The Ryder Cup stayed in Europe in the 1989, set up a chance to win his second European Tour title.
While the leader's father has stayed at home in Malaga, the rest of the Cañizares family watched him collect seven birdies as he attempts to add to his 2006 Russian Open maiden title.
"Every Spaniard wants to win this week but when you have your family here cheering on every shot it makes it a little bit easier," said Cañizares. "Only my dad's not here. He says he's watched enough golf!
"The key to me leading is patience and finally putting well, which is what has been giving me a headache recently.
“Yesterday when I had a three putt and went into water I kept going and trusted my long game."
Second placed Lockerbie is one of a bevy of players fighting to keep his playing card. The 24 year old Englishman is currently 141st on The European Tour Order of Merit.
He said: "I'm leaving it a little bit late. A top three finish would do it but it would just be nice to finish in the top ten and get into next week’s Portugal Masters, where there's big money on offer."
Van de Velde signalled the end of a worrying period in which he has had to battle back from an enforced three month break, following a long-term virus which returned with a vengeance in April.
The Frenchman, whose career was also interrupted by a serious knee injury, blessed his luck on the fifth hole, where he found his ball with time running out.
“I was maybe a minute from declaring it lost,” said Van de Velde. “But I had absolutely no idea where it was because the shot is blind, over the tree and down the hill, so if you hit the tree you know where you are but I went over the tree and was 20 yards past it but you don’t know.
“It was actually the cameraman who came down and said you’re ball is over there. He is the one who found it for me so that was a good break for me. I got away with making four on the hole which was a hell of a result.”
Northern Irish teenager Rory McIlroy played alongside Van de Velde and accelerated with a 68. McIlroy, 18, one of the pre-tournament favourites even though he is playing in only his third event as a professional, lies six shots off the lead.
