Matthieu Pavon still in front at Open de Espana, McKibbin misses the cut

Matthieu Pavon preserved his one-stroke lead after the second round of the Open de Espana in Madrid on a day when home favourite and defending champion Jon Rahm fell out of contention and Ireland's Tom McKibbin missed the cut.

A second round of 75 saw McKibbin left him at four over, well outside the cut mark of two under.

Frenchman Pavon, who finished second behind Rahm at this event last season, hit four birdies and survived a bogey on the 17th to score a three-under 68 for a total of 131.

The 38-year-old stayed one in front of Dutchman Wil Beseling who was joined in second place by Shubhankar Sharma, who fired seven birdies and two bogeys in his five-under round of 66.

Nathan Kimsey's three-under 68 makes him the best-placed English player in sixth place, three strokes off the lead.

But Rahm's hopes of extending a run that has seen him win his home open in four of the last five years were effectively ended by a one-over 72, leaving him on three-under for the tournament and tied in 45th place.

LEADERBOARD