Tania Elosegui and Emma Cabrera Bello celebrate a birdie putt on the eighth green.
Spain made a fast start on a fine day at La Sella Resort. Cabrera Bello rolled in a 10 foot birdie putt at the first hole, before holing out for eagle from the front greenside bunker on the par-five second hole, which gave her and Elosegui a two stroke lead.
They then birdied the par-four third hole, Cabrera Bello knocking in a three-footer, before moving to 11-under-par when Cabrera Bello again rolled in a tricky putt at the fifth. At the eighth, Cabrera Bello’s putting skills again came to the fore when she nailed a six foot putt and the pair moved to 13-under-par with another birdie at the ninth hole.
They were out in 29 with a three stroke lead over Sweden, however when Spain bogeyed the 11th and Sweden birdied the 14th the two teams were locked at 12-under-par. Spain made another birdie at the tough 17th, lifting them to 13-under in total.
Elosegui said: “I’m very happy. I think it’s a great round and a great score for this format. Sweden shot 62 which is unbelievable but 65 is a very good round.”
Cabrera Bello, whose father was out supporting in the gallery with the Spanish flag, added: “It was very exciting. Actually our first four came at the seventh hole, because I was just doing the score card. It was an amazing start. On the front nine I was putting most of the time and that was working and then on the back nine it was Tania putting and me hitting the second shots.”
Australia were one of the favourite teams coming into the event and they made their move on Friday, Webb holing a bunker shot for eagle at the par-five second hole, with five birdies over the last six holes.
“We just finished well really,” explained Lunn. “We struggled a little bit all day but hung in there and made a few birdies at the end.
“Both of us weren’t gelling at the same time but we were doing enough to make pars and then it really clicked the last six holes,” said Webb, a winner of seven major championships. “I’m having a great time and it’s a really lovely week.”
The Italian team, who tied for second at the 2009 event, shot a second round of 66 and Sergas said: “It was very consistent. We shoot 33, 33, so it was a good round.”
Zorzi said: “Well today was different: sunshine, no rain, good feelings, everything was good today. Everybody put the first shot in the fairway and also we had a chance to choose the ball on the green so we played very good together.”
Saturday’s third round will be fourball, better-ball, followed by a final round of “Valencian Cup” on Sunday.
