Tournament host Miguel Angel Jimenez is determined to spoil the party for invited guests after moving into a share of second place after two rounds of the Open de Andalucia Costa del Sol.

The 48-year old Jimenez, who has been hosting the Spanish tournament for six years, recorded six birdies in a four under par 68 and a seven under par total on the Aloha course near Marbella.

Spanish compatriot Eduardo De La Riva, currently ranked 610^th in the world, recorded a 69 to move to eight under par.

The 28-year old Barcelona-born De la Riva has been to European Tour Qualifying School on unsuccessful occasions and qualified for this week’s Euro 1m event as he is presently lying top-10 on the Spanish Region order of merit.

Jimenez, a former two-time Open de Andalucian winner, shares second place with fellow Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal (69), Italy’s Matteo Manassero (73), Ireland’s Damien McGrane and England’s Tommy Fleetwood (69).

Jimenez is using the tournament as a final warm-up before making his 14^th appearance next month at the Masters.

He is currently ranked 51 in the world but qualified for the year’s first Major in being inside the top-50 on the rankings as at December 31^st last year.

“I am only one shot behind the leader and it will be nice to be there in front on Sunday,” he said.

“I have played a lot of golf recently competing in the two WGC events in America so this will be my last event before Augusta.

“But this week has been very tough and very busy for me helping organise the event and while I have a lot of good people around me it always takes me forever to go from point A to B.

“So while it is tough to have my head in the right place I will be very focussed on my golf over the weekend.”

Manassero, who enjoyed a three stroke leading cushion heading to day two, struggled to be three over par for his round after 12 holes but managed to birdie 15 and 18 to get back to within a stroke of the lead.

The 18-year old double European Tour winning Manassero again played in the company of Jimenez and was full of praise for a player 30 years his senior.

“I talked a lot with Miguel about age difference as he is 30 years older than me but I love playing with him because I learn a lot from his experience,” said Manassero.

“He joined the Tour when he was 24, and he has played in the Majors and Ryder Cups so hopefully I will get to play with him again.”

Manassero kept alive his hope of making his professional debut at Augusta but with just a fortnight of qualifying remaining the young Italian needs to win this week and also finish second next week in Morocco and or vice versa.

Also looking to secure a maiden Masters appearance is England’s Robert Rock winner of the recent Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

Rock, who is currently ranked six places outside the top-50, is among eight players also well placed at six under par.

“That’s why I am playing this week and next week in Morocco to try and qualify for Augusta,” said Rock after his round of 67.

“I’ve never ever been to Augusta before so it would be nice to play but if not this year, then I feel as though I should have a better chance next year.”

But while Manassero and Rock still seek to qualify for the April 5^th commencing Masters, former Augusta winner Mike Weir is happy he is returning to some form.

The Canadian celebrated a first visit back to Spain in 12 years by making the halfway cut for a first occasion in four events this season with scores of 68 and 73 for a share of 31^st place at three under par.

“My golf was a little scrappy today and I didn’t find enough fairways so I found myself in some tough positions to recover from,” said the 2003 Augusta winner.

“I am pleased to make a first cut this year but I just want to keep on playing and get as many rounds under my belt as I can before the  Majors start up.

“I’m playing Bay Hill next week and then my next event will be Augusta.”

But missing the level par cut off mark was fellow Major winners Michael Campbell (72) at three over par and Rich Beem (77) at seven over par.