Italian teen Matteo Manassero boosted his hopes of making the US Open on Friday by moving into contention at the 100th Spanish Open in Seville after the second round.

Manassero’s 2-under 70 moved him to 4 under for the tournament and one stroke behind French leader Gregory Bourdy (66) in windy conditions.

The 19-year-old Manassero shared second place with Jorge Campillo (72) of Spain and the England duo of Robert Rock (72) and Simon Dyson (69).

Former US PGA Championship winner Shaun Micheel, the first-round leader, bogeyed his last three holes to shoot 77 and slip to level par overall.

Manassero, ranked 64th in the world, needs to be inside the top 60 as of May 21 to ensure a place at the US Open, which starts June 14 in San Francisco.

“I seem to be always trying lately to be trying to get myself into a major,” Manassero said.

“I missed out on the Masters and I’m now four places on the rankings from making the US Open, but the good thing is that I am again in contention and that’s all I can do.”

He needs to finish in the top 5 in Seville to move inside the top 60.

Rock is right on the qualifying mark of 60th in the rankings.

If unsuccessful they could still join the Olympic Club field by going through a 36-hole US Open qualifier on May 28 at the Walton Heath course in Surrey.

Bourdy birdied two of his opening three holes than four of his closing six in his best round since a 66 in the third round in the Andalucian Open this year.

“I am very happy with how I have handled these two days because this has been two of the toughest days we’ve had on the tour this year,” said Bourdy, who has won three times on the European Tour, his last being the 2009 Hong Kong Open.