The South African does not have full playing privileges on the European Tour but he held off a host of established names with five birdies and a bogey to get to 11 under before he was forced to walk in with one hole to play.

Home trio Jorge Campillo, Sebastian Garcia Rodriguez and Alvaro Quiros completed their rounds and were at seven under alongside Dane Jeff Winther.

Australia's Scott Hend is booked in for the weekend at one under but at four over Queenslander Maverick Antcliff will miss the cut.

England's Richard Mansell produced the lowest round of the day with a 64 in very windy conditions to sit in a group at six under which also contained countryman Laurie Canter, who carded a 66.

Easton turned in 32 with birdies on the fourth, fifth and ninth and opened up a four-shot lead with a tee-shot to 12 feet on the 12th.

His advantage was trimmed when he dropped a shot on the 14th but a birdie on the 16th moved him back to 11 under.

"Lovely day, made it look a bit more difficult for myself on the back nine, had to grind out a few par saves," he said. "I played the front nine lovely, managed to hang in.

"Tough coming in at the end there. Obviously getting dark. Overall very happy with how today went, happy with where I am."

Overnight leader Winther carded a 71, while Campillo and Quiros recorded rounds of 69 and Garcia Rodriguez signed for a 67.

Australian Associated Press