England’s Adam Gee carded a second successive 66 on Friday morning to take a narrow lead at the D+D Real Czech Challenge Open.
With scoring once again fiercely competitive at Golf & Spa Kunetická Hora, Gee made six unblemished birdies – three on the front nine and four on the back – to post a six under par total and move one clear of overnight co-leader and compatriot Francis McGuirk on 12 under par.
McGuirk, following on from a stunning bogey-free 64 on Thursday, remained firmly in the hunt despite three-putting the 18th for bogey in his second round, signing for a three under par 69 and a share of second alongside Agustin Domingo as the day progressed.
The Spaniard found seven birdies in a five under par 67 on another bright and very scoreable day in Pardubice, as red numbers continued to pepper the leaderboard.
Gee, who has struggled somewhat since returning from a serious hip operation two years ago, had a roller-coaster first round that included seven birdies, an eagle and three bogeys but found more consistent form on Friday.
The 32 year old Londoner gave himself numerous opportunities in a fine display, making birdies at the two front nine par fives – the second and seventh – before a 20-foot birdie putt at the 12th took him three under.
Further gains followed at the 13th and long 16th before a wedge to five feet at the last set up a sixth superb birdie of the day.
“It was fairways, greens, a few putts, fairly boring really – and long may it continue!” said Gee, who has had a number of intermittent spells on The European Tour since turning professional in 2006.
“Our whole group was bogey-free – myself, Stu (Davies) and Jerome (Lando Casanova) – and there were no drops between us so that was quite nice. We were all aware of it so no one wanted to be the first to do it and ruin the group.
“Everyone pulled each other long; sometimes it can be poison whereas other days it can be like today when everybody helps each other out.”
Gee said work over the winter with new coach Hugh Marr at his home club The Wisley seemed now to be bearing fruit after a frustrating campaign in which he has made just one cut in four appearances on the Challenge Tour.
He continued: “The different outlook has helped, looking at various things. I’ve felt I have been making slow progress without the scores necessarily reflecting that but it seems to have clicked these two days.
“He’s not wrapped me in cotton wool, he’s told me it has not been good enough and you need that sometimes.
“I’ve been scraping around trying to make cuts the last few events so it’s nice to be able to relax, knowing I’ve made the weekend, and hopefully I can kick on. It’s a cliché, but there is a long way to go, though.”
McGuirk, meanwhile, started where he left off with birdie at the opening hole before a first bogey of the week at the par four fifth. He steadied the ship with a gain at the long seventh before draining a 35-foot birdie putt at the 12th.
With numerous contenders closing in, a fourth birdie of the day at the 14th McGuirk ahead before he struck his shot of the day at the 17th as the 39 year old hit a two iron to two feet at the par three before a frustrating three-putt finish.
“The course is in great condition so I expect to be a few behind by the end of the day,” said McGuirk. “But I’m playing quite nicely so I won’t worry too much about that and just get on with the job again tomorrow.”
Alongside the experienced Englishman was Domingo, who finished tied eighth here in the inaugural edition of the Czech Challenge last year, and his iron-play on Friday morning was prodigious en route to a five under 67, with four of his five birdies coming from putts within five feet.
“I didn’t play last week because I wanted to come here and I chose here because I have good memories of last year and I like the course, I feel it suits my game,” said Domingo, who finished second earlier this season at the Montecchia Golf Open presented by POLAROID.
A shot further back as the day continued were former European Tour champion Raymond Russell, who shot a five under par 67 on Friday, and Iceland’s Birgir Hafthorsson, who was bogey free in an excellent 65.
Joint-leader overnight, Adrian Otaegui began his second round at 1400 local time now four shots off the lead and started solidly with three pars.
