GB&Ire unless stated -13 P Broadhurst, D Fichardt (SA) -12 I Giner (Spa), G McDowell, B Rumford (Aus), R Sterne (SA) -11 J Edfors (Swe), A Hansen (Den), R Jacquelin (Fra), MA Jimenez (Spa), T Price (Aus) Clubhouse scores

The duo will take a one-shot lead into the final day at Club de Campo.

After just one bogey in his first two rounds, the 39-year-old Broadhurst struggled until his two late birdies.

There would have been a three-way tie for the lead if Sweden's Johan Edfors had not unluckily lost his ball after driving into the crowd at the last.

The controversial incident could prove extremely costly as Edfors needs to finish first or second to avoid losing his tour card.

Having reached the last on 13 under par and in a tie for first, the 29-year-old hooked his drive into the trees.

I would have paid a lot for that ball Johan Edfors

When his ball could not be found playing partners Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland and Denmark's Anders Hansen insisted that it must have been picked up by a spectator.

But, despite appeals to the crowd in English and Spanish, referee Andy McFee ruled that, with no television evidence showing the ball at rest and nobody saying they had seen it being lifted, he could not give Edfors the benefit of the doubt.

"I can't assume it - I need hard evidence," said McFee. "It's not the first time it's happened and it probably won't be the last, but nobody has an idea where it finished and so I have to declare it a lost ball."

Edfors, the winner of last year's Challenge Tour, returned to the tee, double-bogeyed the hole and dropped to joint seventh place with a 69.

He will resume on 11 under, two behind Broadhurst and South Africa's Fichardt.

I feel pretty sick for (Edfors), but he is good enough to come back and do the business Graeme McDowell

A stunned Edfors said: "It was not a nice way to finish. It's impossible to lose your ball there and it's quite expensive. I would have paid a lot for that ball."

Broadhurst, round in 68, said: "It's career-threatening and there ought to be some allowance made for it. It keeps happening every week - somebody picking up a ball and stuffing it in their pocket.

"It's not on really, especially when you're leading. I hope he keeps his card, but he is going to be absolutely devastated. Hopefully it's not going to affect him tomorrow."

McDowell, who is just a shot off the lead on 12 under, added: "I feel pretty sick for him. It's one of these freak things - somebody has got that ball - but he is good enough to come back and do the business."

Two more players embroiled in the race for cards for next year, Spain's Ivo Giner and South African Richard Sterne, were also in the group a stroke off the lead.

Like Edfors, Giner needs to finish at least second but a top-20 finish could seal Sterne's card.