Chacarra flies the flag for Spain in China Open

Spaniard Eugenio Chacarra stands alone at the top of the leaderboard on nine under par after the second round of the Volvo China Open in Shenzhen on Friday.

Madrid-born Chacarra, 23, was in the second flight out from the 10th tee at Hidden Grace Golf Club this morning at 06:50 and opened his account with a birdie three. Two costly bogeys followed on his second and fifth holes but then he steadied the ship and got those shots back before the turn.

Three straight birdies at the start of his back nine pushed him well up the leaderboard but a further bogey on the tricky fourth hole steadied his charge. He then made two further birdies coming in to sign for a five under par 67 and to hold the clubhouse lead on nine under par total 135.

"A good round overall – a good back nine but very sloppy at the end of the front nine," said Chacarra, who has two professional wins to his credit.

"I started well, was three under after five but then 15, 17, 18 and one were really bad mentally – I got tired but I have been struggling to sleep."

"I doubled 18. Hit my second shot short, chipped to five feet and three putted. It was a shame as I was three under but then back to even. Nine under at the start of the tournament is good."

"I have been struggling with my sleep. I came in here from the US with a 14-hour delay in an airport sitting down which didn't help my body, and it's a 13-hour time difference from where I live."

"I went to bed at 9pm, woke up at 2am, didn't fall back to sleep until 4.30am and then woke up at 5am to go and play so it's just tough and something we need to get used to. I am loving China and I think it is a great country, great people and obviously a great golf course."