Rookies join veteran Aguilar in Spain lead

VALENCIA, Spain (AFP) –

Felipe Aguilar of Chile plays a shot in Dubai, on February 3, 2013. Rookies Morten Orum Madsen and Gary Stal joined Aguilar in a three-way tie for the lead at the Spanish Open on Thursday.

Rookies Morten Orum Madsen and Gary Stal joined Chile veteran Felipe Aguilar in a three-way tie for the lead at the Spanish Open on Thursday.

Dane Madsen carded five birdies and one bogey in his four under par 68 while Stal, a fellow graduate of the Challenge Tour, had four birdies in his bogey-free round.

Aguilar, 38, who won his only European Tour title five years ago, hit six birdies and two bogeys.

“This course is playing very nicely – especially in the morning with very little wind,” said Aguilar.

“The conditions are absolutely fantastic. It’s a very difficult golf course if you miss the fairways off the tee; as long as you keep it on the fairway off the tee you get pretty good chances. The greens are rolling really nicely.”

Eight players were tied for fourth on three under while Sergio Garcia was among those round in level par.

Fellow Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez, in his first event of 2013 after breaking his leg skiing in December, carded a 76.