Marco Penge proved patience is a virtue as he manoeuvred into the Open de España presented by Madrid lead after two rounds at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid.
The Englishman has his sights set on becoming the first three-time winner on the 2025 Race to Dubai and posted a bogey free four under 67 to reach nine under par, one clear of Canadian Aaron Cockerill, Switzerland’s Joel Girrbach and Denmark’s Jeff Winther who shared second on eight under.
Related: Sam Bairstow produces hot finish to share lead in Madrid
The 27-year-old, who won his maiden title at the Hainan Classic before tasting victory for a second time in 2025 at the Danish Golf Championship in August, waited for his scoring chances in the Spanish capital and his patience was rewarded with an impressive finish.
The Race to Dubai Number Three parred the first seven holes of his second round before moving into the red with a birdie from six feet at the par four eighth. He then rolled in a ten footer to move within one of the lead at the par three 11th, before parring the next five.
View this post on Instagram
The 2023 Road to Mallorca winner stuck his tee shot to two feet on the par three 17th to move to three under for the day and level with the then-leaders, before showcasing the power he’s known for on the closing par four 18th.
He hit his final drive of the day 325 yards to the middle of the fairway on the upslope to the green, before pitching his second to six feet and then converting a closing birdie and securing the 36-hole lead.
Winther posted an impressive bogey-free 64 to continue his recent good form, and the trio in second place sit one stroke ahead of six players in a share of fifth, including in-form Joakim Lagergren, from Sweden, French duo Julien Guerrier and Alex Levy, Englishman Dan Brown, America’s Patrick Reed and Austrian Bernd Wiesberger.
View this post on Instagram
Young Spaniard Angel Ayora remains the leading home hope in a tie for 11th on six under, while two-time Major winner Jon Rahm bounced back from his opening one over 72 with a classy five under 66 to sit five back of the lead.
View this post on Instagram
Player quotes
Marco Penge: Very patient day, nice to have a bogey-free round. I played pretty solid, still a couple of bits there that I can improve on but all in all it was a steady round of golf.
I think if you’re not patient, it’s going to catch you out. It’s so tricky and a little bit fiddly and if you’re not fully focused or concentrating over every shot, you’re going to make bogeys.
I wasn’t really focusing on my score out there, it was mainly just to stay as patient as I could and see what the round gives me. I finished with two birdies there, when you are patient you do get rewarded so I did get that today.
