Jonathan Caldwell birdied four of his closing seven holes to make it safely through to the weekend rounds in the birdie feast at the Gran Canaria Lopesan Open.
Caldwell signed for a five-under par 65 that included six birdies to move seven-under and now sits just outside the top-30 on the sun-drenched par-70 Meloneras course.
It left the Clandeboye golfer trailing seven shots behind Dane Thorbjorn Olesen who moved one clear of the field at 14-under par after signing for a sizzling nine-under par 61 for a new course record.
The Tour is on a ’59’ watch over the closing two rounds after Olesen was also joined in sharing the new course record by England’s Sam Horsfield at 10-under par, with Scot Connor Syme also grabbing a 61 to be back at eight-under par.
Olesen, who is awaiting a December trial on sexual assault charges and being drunk on a BA flight, is playing in his first event this season, having been ruled out of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship after failing a Covid-19 test then picking up a wrist injury.
“I was definitely not expecting this,” said the 31-year-old after signing for an eagle and seven birdies.
Olesen, who became a dad earlier this month when his fiancee, Lauren Zafer, gave birth to a son, added: “I didn’t have that much practice coming in here, only last week, so the expectations were pretty low.
“It was great fun to be out here yesterday and today and shooting such a good number. The thought of 59 didn’t really come to mind, I didn’t even know what the par was, to be honest.”
Caldwell’s effort is only the second time in five events this year he’s assured himself of a Tour pay cheque.
Joining him over the weekend is Niall Kearney with scores of 68 and a second round 65 that included a fourth hole eagle ‘3’.
Missing the high five-under par cut was Cormac Sharvin (67 & 70) and Paul Dunne (68 & 71).
And looking back on the second round, and just those who made the cut, there 17 eagles and a whopping 390 birdies and with all but one player in the 76 players who made the cut failing to break par on day two.
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