Scotland's Chris Doak, surprise overnight leader at the Andalucian Open, struggled on his return to the Real Club in Seville today.
Click here to watch the videoThe 31-year-old from Greenock, a European Tour rookie ranked 1,329th in the world, found himself down in joint ninth plac
e on four under par after double-bogeying the short seventh.
New leader at nine under with four holes of his second round to play was German Marcel Siem – himself ranked only 393rd, but winner of the World Cup with Bernhard Langer only three years after a play-off with Colin Montgomerie and Marc Warren.
Siem was three ahead of Spain's British Masters champion Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, while another Scot, Andrew Coltart, and England's Graeme Storm were part of the group in third place one further back.
Doak's opening six under par 66 had put him one ahead of Montgomerie, compatriot Steven O'Hara, Frenchman Jean-Francois Lucquin and Spaniard Juan Parron.
Ryder Cup captain Montgomerie, chasing his 32nd European Tour victory in his 500th event on the circuit as a professional, O'Hara and Lucquin were among the day's later starters.
But Parron had a nightmare opening stretch. In addition to bogeys on the 11th, 12th and 15th he ran up a double bogey seven at the long 13th to slump all the way to level par, the likely halfway cut mark.
Double Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal, yet to decide whether he will play at Augusta in two weeks' time, was down on four over after 12 holes.
Olazabal is playing just his fifth event since last May after continuing problems with rheumatism and fatigue.
Siem had no fewer than seven birdies in his first 14 holes, but also bogeyed the sixth and 12th.
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