Kiwi Ryan Fox has surged to within a shot of the lead halfway through the European Tour's Mallora Open in Spain, holing a spectacular eagle from the fairway during the second round.
Fox, 35, carded a seven-under-par 64 on the second day at Son Muntaner Golf Club to trail Englishman Dale Whitnell by a single stroke.
Both sat five shots off the pace after the opening round, but were the big improvers at second ask, with Fox holding a two-shot buffer over third-placed Chilean Hugo Leon and overnight leader Marcus Armitage crashing to a two-over 73.
Whitnell equalled the course record of 63 set by countryman Armitage the previous day.
Ranked a career-high No.23 in the world, the Kiwi was third on the European Tour list entering this event, but has provisionally improved to second on the standings on his current position.
His round was highlighted by a two on the par-four third hole, after starting his round on the back nine.
"I had a great number," he said. "I had 100 metres on the nose, a little bit downwind.
"The ball's going a long way this week, so it was just a full lob wedge and obviously it looked pretty good.
"I didn't see it go in - it was sort of hidden by that bunker - but knew it was going to be pretty good in the air and it got a nice little cheer behind the green, which was nice.
"It was a nice little bonus on the scorecard there. I think it's the second shot I've holed this year, so it was nice to get one."
Fox had a chance to tie for the lead on the final green, but left his birdie putt agonisingly on the edge of the hole.
Meanwhile, Kiwi Lydia Ko will enter the third round of the BMW Ladies Championship tied for fifth, after carding a four-under 68 around the Oak Valley Country Club at Wonju, South Korea.
Ko, 25, sits four shots off the pace set by American Andrew Lee, who surged to the lead with a six-under 66.
