After firing a 7-under 65 on Friday, Paul Dunne will take a three-shot lead into the weekend at the Open de España.

Starting on Centro Nacional de Golf’s back nine, Dunne opened with birdies on Nos. 10, 12, 15, and 17 to turn in 32.

The Irishman started his closing nine birdie-bogey-par-par, but finished with four birdies over his final five holes to reach 13-under par, three clear of the field.

“It’s just one of those days. I went on playing, I wasn’t really thinking about the score, then the score kind of built on itself,” said Dunne.

“The conditions were a lot better than the last couple of days and playing early I got the best of the greens so it was a pretty steady day.

“My game is in good shape, I’m feeling good. I see a lot of birdies around this course if the weather stays like this so hopefully I can make them.

“I think it’s been training the right way for a while and I’ve got a nice run of events here in Europe over the next few weeks as well, so I’m looking forward to that and hopefully just keep doing what I am doing.”

Spaniard Nacho Elvira (66), Aussie Brett Rumford (66) and England’s Callum Shinkwin (67) were all at 10 under.

Another native son Jon Rahm started with an eagle and looked to be surging with birdies on Nos. 5 and 11, but a double-bogey on No. 12 took some of the wind out his sails. He gained back the lost shots with birdies on Nos. 13 and 18 to sign for a 4-under 68.

Rahm, the world No. 4, sits T5 alongside England’s Robert Rock (65), Scot Marc Warren (69) and Swede Henric Sturehed (68) at 9-under par.

Defending champion Andrew Johnston was one further back at 8-under par following a second-day 68. Some 40 players were within three shots of the lead.

TOP 10 LEADERS

1 Paul Dunne -13
2 Brett Rumford -10
2 Nacho Elvira -10
2 Callum Shinkwin -10
5 Marc Warren -9
5 Jon Rahm -9
5 Robert Rock -9
5 Henric Sturehed -9
9 Andrew Johnston -8
9 Julien Guerrier -8
9 Maximilian Kieffer -8
9 Thorbjørn Olesen -8
9 Pablo Larrazabal -8
9 Jeff Winther -8

VIDEO: DUNNE’S HIGHLIGHTS

? The best of leader Paul Dunne's second round at the #OpendeEspana. pic.twitter.com/tJzNOPZPzh

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) April 13, 2018

QUOTABLE

“My game is in good shape, I’m feeling good. I see a lot of birdies around this course if the weather stays like this so hopefully I can make them.”
– Paul Dunne

Credit: Getty Images, European Tour