Steady Warren stays in front

Marc Warren remained on course for his first victory on The European Tour since 2007 at the Open de España.

The Scotsman has experienced being in contention without emerging triumphant on many occasions since his Johnnie Walker Championship success in 2007.

Yet he appeared set to change that today having played the first 12 holes at one over par, keeping him seven under overall - two shots ahead of his nearest challengers.

Eddie Pepperell, Maximilian Kieffer, Felipe Aguilar, Espen Kofstad and Paul Waring were all five under, while Warren’s countryman and playing partner Craig Lee had faded away after beginning with five successive bogeys.

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It looked like a day of struggle might be in the offing for Warren as a dropped shot came on the second, yet he picked up a birdie at the par five next.</div>

Perhaps his most important effort came in the form of a par on the sixth, where an excellent up and down from the bunker was completed by a seven foot putt.

He did, however, drop a shot on the sixth when an eight footer lipped out after his second shot had gone through the green, yet was a model of consistency thereafter as pars came on the next six.