Gavin Green took a three-shot lead after day two of the €1.75 million D+D Real Czech Masters with two eagles and five birdies in a round of 63 at the Albatross Golf Resort, Prague, Czech Republic on the DP World Tour.
The Malaysian, looking for his first DP World Tour win, finished strongly to head two-time Czech Masters winner Belgian Thomas Pieters, Marcel Schneider of Germany and England’s Richard Mansell, who were tied for second on 11 under.
Overnight leader Louis de Jager and Maximilian Kieffer were a shot further back.
Green went ahead with his second eagle of the day on the first hole having equalled what he did when teeing off from the tenth.
Closing birdie
Green’s pair of eagles and birdies on 11, 12 and 14 meant he claimed the individual lead with eight holes still to play.
Another birdie on eight meant Green went to 13 under and a closing birdie sent him three shots clear of the field on 14 under after a 63, which was not a new course record because of preferred lies.
Green had surged further ahead with a birdie on eight and followed it up with another on nine to lead by three.
He admitted that a recent trip to see his coach had paid dividends.
Small tweak
“I went to see my coach after one of the PGA Tour events, the Barbasol or Barracuda, and we did a small tweak and that has kind of helped me and just made me more consistent,” said Green.
Pieters, coached by Peter Cowen, who has his Golf Academies in Dubai and Rotherham, had four birdies in his second round for a flawless 68 to add to his first round 65 and set the early clubhouse lead at 11 under.
Pieters was back enjoying his golf after taking a month off.
He said: “I tend to do well after a big break. I just shut it down for a week and do something completely different — be a dad.
Spin control
“It refreshes the mind, makes me hungry to come out and play and compete again. I feel like I’m ready every time I come back.
“I’m doing a lot of things very well, a couple of things to work on — spin control was not very good today. But I’m very happy to be 11 under par,” concluded Pieters.
Round Two Leaders (Par 72, 7,468 yards):
G. Green (Mal) 67. 63. 130.
M. Schneider (Ger) 66. 67. 133.
R. Mansell (Eng) 67. 66. 133.
T. Pieters (Bel) 65. 68. 133.
M. Kieffer (Ger) 68. 66. 134.
L. De Jager (RSA) 64. 70. 134.
Other Notables
Tied 48th I. Poulter (Eng) 70. 71. 141.
Tied 60th S. Crocker (US) 71. 71. 142.
Missed Cut (Two Under, 142)
MG Keyser (RSA) 68. 75. 143.
N. Colsaerts (Bel) 74. 70. 144.
R. McGowan (Eng) 74. 71. 145.
