Eddie Pepperell is hoping his resurgence in form will continue this weekend to stay in contention for the Spanish Open title tomorrow.

The Frilford Heath golfer held the lead after a four-under-par 68 in the first round in Girona, and took advantage of an early tee time yesterday.

A round of 71 took the 23-year-old into a share of second spot, with Dutchman Joost Luiten, on five-under at the halfway mark, one shot behind Belgium’s Thomas Pieters.

Pepperell, who had missed five cuts in a row before finishing joint 57th at the China Open last month, is looking to stay in the mix for another two days.

He said: “The game’s been pretty good for two days and five under puts me in a really nice spot for the weekend.

“If I keep doing what I’m doing I hope to have a shot at it come Sunday afternoon.”

At one stage yesterday Pepperell looked set to dominate as he opened up from the tenth with birdie-birdie-eagle in his first three holes to briefly move five shots clear of the field.

His momentum was halted by a double bogey at the 14th and a further dropped shot at the 18th.

But he played the front nine in level par to stay at the sharp end.

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