Carlos Pigem, one stroke behind, and Ángel Ayora, two strokes back, remain in contention at the Challenge de Cádiz, currently being played at the Iberostar Real Club de Golf Novo Sancti Petri. Germany's Hammer and Sweden's Lemke lead the field at 7 under par. With two rounds remaining, and after the cut, only 7 strokes separate the leaders from the bottom of the leaderboard, promising two days of highly competitive golf in Andalusia.
The second day of the Challenge Cádiz at the Iberostar Real Club de Golf Novo Sancti Petri was a cool day with some wind and occasional drizzle, and tricky pin positions that were reflected in the scores. The best round of the day, a 6-under-par, was shot by Sweden's Mikael Lindberg, who climbed from 63rd to 11th place and gave himself a chance for the weekend. However, it is Germany's Marc Hammer (winner of the 2022 Euram Bank Open), who shot a 67 today, and Sweden's Niclas Lemke, one of the veterans at 40 years old and seeking his first victory, who lead the standings by just one stroke, with the Spanish players closing in strongly.
Carlos Pigem has returned to the Asian Tour, where he competed for 4 seasons (2013-17) and won a tournament, and to which he has returned and taken a break to play the Cadiz Challenge. Today he started strong, with 3 birdies in the first 4 holes, a bogey on the 10th solved with three consecutive birdies from the 11th to the 13th and he managed to overcome the difficulties of the last holes of Santi Petri to sign a card of 65 strokes for a total of 6 under par: “I started very well, with 3 birdies in the first 4 holes, I got a running start, then it is true that it was a little difficult and I was a little more stopped, a very silly bogey on the 10th with a very bad second shot to the right and from there I played very well the 11th, 12th and 13th with three great birdies and at the end I had some birdie opportunity but on the 18th I missed the shot and I made a very good approach and putt.
The season has been tough, with a lot of travel, but it's great to play this week in this magnificent Challenge in Cadiz, to be with your friends, your family who support you, and to be close to home is much appreciated.
Tomorrow, hit the ball well, give yourself birdie opportunities and sink putts, and above all, have a very good attitude, which I think is the most important thing.”.
Ángel Ayora, a member of the Pro Spain Team, recovered well from a bogey start and had a moment mid-round when he was at the top of the leaderboard, but he didn't have the dream finish and with 72 strokes he finished 5 under, just 2 behind the leaders.
“"It's been a tough day. I started off rough with a bogey on the 3rd, a difficult hole with the wind. I tried to give myself opportunities, and I took them, and the start of the back nine was perfect. I began with four birdies, but then the course took its toll. That's the thing about it; the moment you let your guard down, it punishes you. And that's exactly what happened: bogey, bogey, and then a double bogey, which came from a bad drive to the right. But I'm leaving here eager to give it my all tomorrow. Two strokes is nothing here, one hole for one person and one hole for the other. I'll keep fighting for every shot with a cool head and see what happens.".
When I played in the PGA Tour tournament, I realized even more clearly that this is what I want to dedicate myself to. It's a beautiful world. I learned so much watching that caliber of players; the level was incredible. Seeing that makes you want to keep training, keep improving, keep learning so you can get there someday. Tomorrow I'll be very focused on the present, one shot at a time, keeping an eye on the wind, which affected me today. You know where it's coming from, but on the back nine, through the pines, it's a bit confusing, and it's leaving me with birdie opportunities, which will come.
Today the cut was made in the classification, which was at even par and a total of 75 players passed it, including 11 Spaniards: Carlos Pigem (-6), Ángel Ayora Pro Spain Team (-5), David Borda (-4), Borja Virto (-4), Scott Fernández (-1), Javier Sainz Pro Spain (-1), Quim Vidal Pro Spain (-1), Joel Moscatel Pro Spain (-1), Ignacio Sánchez Palencia (P), Asier Aguirre (P), Alfonso Buendía (P).
They will all play the third day of the Cadiz Challenge which will start at 8:00 a.m. and the leaders' match will start at 12:39 p.m., all from the 1st tee.
SOURCE: Tournament organizers.
