Saturday 29 August 2015 16:53, UK
A 20-foot birdie at the final hole gave Matthew Fitzpatrick a share of the lead heading into the weekend at the Czech Masters.
The 20-year-old continued his blemish-free start to the tournament with three birdies and an eagle at Albatross Golf Resort to set the clubhouse lead at 11 under, only for late-starter Pelle Edberg to move alongside him with four birdies over his back nine.
Fitzpatrick, looking for a maiden win on the European Tour after four top-ten finishes in his rookie season, followed gains at the second and 11th with a 30-foot eagle putt at the par-five 12th on his way to a five-under 67.
His efforts at the 18th moved the Sheffield-born star above Edberg and Pieters, who was two-shots clear at the top of the leaderboard until two late blemishes, only for the Swede to join him by following a hat-trick of gains from the third with another birdie at the par-five ninth.
"It was very consistent and played nicely," Fitzpatrick told Sky Sports 4. "I hit the greens again which is always important to keep making pars and to take chances when you get them. The more greens you hit the more chances you give yourself, so I gave myself a few out there.
"I got a little bit frustrated in the middle of the round when I couldn't hole any putts and I missed a few chances, but I picked up over the back nine and made a couple of good putts coming in.
"The putt on 18 was a nice way to finish. It's another chance at the weekend to put myself in contention for Sunday and I'm looking forward to it."
English pair Sam Hutsby and Robert Dinwiddie are joined by Denmark's Thorbjorn Olesen on eight under, with Eddie Pepperell and Michael Hoey a further stroke adrift in a tie for ninth.
Overnight joint-leader Eduardo De La Riva slipped down the leaderboard after failing to pick up a birdie all morning in a four-over 76, with the Spaniard now part of a large group seven off the pace.
Peter Uihlein and Oliver Fisher also head into the weekend three under, as does home favourite Vitek Novak after the amateur carded a bogey-free 68 to become the first Czech player in 21 years to make the cut in a European Tour event.
"I hit a lot of good shots on the course and I kept calm for all 18 holes," Novak said. "I'm very happy to shoot what I did today. It's just amazing."
Last week's Made In Denmark champion David Horsey missed the cut after posting three bogeys over his final four holes, while James Morrison's first appearance since the PGA Championship ended with an early exit after the Englishman posted a two-over 74.
Watch the Czech Masters live throughout the weekend on Sky Sports 4 – your home of golf
