(Castellon, Spain – Friday 17th July 2009) – Becky Brewerton of Wales took a three stroke lead into the weekend at the Open de Espana Femenino.

The 26-year-old sixth year tour player started the day in a three-way tie for the lead but surged ahead of the pack with a fine round of 69 and a two round total of 134, 10-under-par.

Brewerton made her move under the blazing sun early in the second round with a tap-in birdie at the par-five second hole at Panoramica Golf and Country Club in San Jorge, Castellon. She then chipped in for eagle at the 487-yard par-five ninth, taking her to the turn in 33.

A solid finish with nine straight pars over the more tricky back nine saw her home in 36, before the afternoon wind picked up significantly.

“My putting was pretty solid so the short game got me through. I probably actually played better on the back nine than I did on the front nine but I shot three under on the front nine,” she said. “It just works out a bit strange sometimes. I missed a few greens but my short game is really, really good.”

Brewerton joined the Ladies European Tour in 2004 after a phenomenal amateur career during which she finished second at two professional events: the 2003 Tenerife Ladies Open and WPGA Championship of Europe. She won her only tour event at the Ladies English Open in 2007, the year she made her Solheim Cup debut. Her best finish at the Spanish Open was third, in 2004, but the stakes are higher this week with a place in next week’s Evian Masters available.

England’s Sarah Heath and Spaniard Emma Cabrera-Bello shot five-under 67s and finished equal second at seven-under-par alongside Spanish amateurs Ana Fernandez de Mesa (67) and Carlota Ciganda (72).

Overnight co-leader Ciganda was tied for the lead with Brewerton at 10-under after 11 holes but dropped three shots in five holes from the fourth coming in against a strong wind.

After struggling on tour for the last five years, Heath was delighted with her performance and said: “I played really well today and I had so much confidence it was brilliant. It’s been a long time coming but I’ve been working really hard with a psychologist, technical coach and fitness guy. I think the biggest thing that has changed has been the psychology. I’m a lot stronger mentally and the stuff I’ve been working on with Danielle Bryant, she’s very, very good. I think that’s helped.”

First round co-leader Maria Boden of Sweden carded a one-over 73 and dropped back to six-under with four other players. Spaniards Paula Marti and Carmen Alonso joined Boden on that score along with South African Lee-Anne Pace and Italian Veronica Zorzi.

“The back nine was so hard because the wind was so strong and the balls were shaking all the time,” Alonso said. “I played really well and don’t have anything to complain about. I’m so happy because I’m up there and playing at home in Spain so you never know.”