Oliver Gillberg and Luis Masaveu share a one stroke lead heading into the weekend of the Challenge de España at Fontanals Golf Club.
Gillberg carded a five under par round of 66 on day two, while Masaveu’s four under 67 saw the duo both move to 11 under par for the week, one stroke clear of overnight leader Victor Sidal Svendsen from Denmark, Frenchman Clement Charmasson and Scotsman Euan Walker who share third.
Gillberg was one of the early starters on day two and birdied four of his opening five holes to jump into the outright lead.
The Swede added two more gains at the ninth and 12th, and despite recording his only bogey of the day on the par five 13th, is in a strong position to challenge for a maiden HotelPlanner Tour title at the weekend.
The 28-year-old is making his first start of the season this week after earning promotion from the Nordic Golf League in 2024.
“I realised yesterday just how much I miss competing because it’s been a while, so I’m just happy that the game felt good and I felt the joy of competing again,” he said.
“I was out in the first group this morning when it was cold and rainy, but I got off to a pretty hot start which was nice. I shot level par on the back nine so slowed down a bit but I’m very happy.
“I feel prepared for the season and this weekend. I played nine events last year on the HotelPlanner Tour, with quite a few of those being invites, so I’ve come into this year with quite a lot of experience.”
Masaveu, starting on the tenth, made the turn two under par after mixing three birdies with a solitary bogey. He then added birdies at the second and the ninth – his last – to move into a share of the lead alongside Gillberg.
The Spaniard, who secured playing privileges on the HotelPlanner Tour through the Global Amateur Pathway Rankings in 2024, is excited to be in contention on home soil.
“When you’re in contention, that’s why you practice and that’s why I play golf, so I’m looking forward to it,” he said.
“It was definitely a grind today. I just tried to keep hitting the best shots I could. My last six holes I didn’t play too well but I stuck to it and I’m happy with the way I finished.
“I’ve been playing very aggressively, and I think I need to do the same these next two days to be able to win. I’m super excited.”
Road to Mallorca Number Three, Joshua Berry, occupies sixth place on nine under par, with four players one shot further back in seventh, including Spaniard Javier Sainz, Dane Jens Kristian Thysted, Finn Lauri Ruuska and Englishman Tom Shadbolt.
The third round of the Challenge de España gets under way at 9:00am local time, with Gillberg and Masaveu teeing off alongside Sidal Svendsen at 11:00am.
