David Boote, Ugo Coussaud and Lorenzo Scalise share the lead at the halfway stage of the D+D REAL Czech Challenge at Golf & Spa Kunětická Hora.
Welshman Boote came from six shots behind, recording a round of 64, while Coussaud of France signed for a round of 66 as the pair reached the overnight target of six under par. Italy’s Lorenzo Scalise, who teed off in the afternoon, carded a four under par round of 66 to join the duo late in the day.
Boote, who finished tied 18th in Scotland last week, carded seven birdies and one bogey to move 42 places up the leaderboard at the end of day two.
“I played really nice,” said the 28-year-old. “Funnily enough I didn’t hit the ball that well yesterday, but I had a good range session before my round this morning and it felt good out there.
“On a Friday you’re trying to make a push up the leaderboard, especially when the scoring was quite good yesterday, and the course is quite tricky in places. There was a bit of wind early on in the morning, so I was really pleased with four under on the front nine.
“There’s a long way to go so I’ll try and put another two rounds together like I have, and we’ll see where I end up on Sunday.”
Scalise made a late charge up the leaderboard with a bogey-free back nine, including three birdies at the tenth, 11th and 17th holes, to join the co-leaders.
“It’s good to be in this position going into the weekend,” he said. “I played solid yesterday and solid today, so hopefully this continues.
“On a windy day like today you want to get off to a good start because if things start to go a bit off it is harder to keep yourself in the tournament in tough conditions. It was definitely nice to start with a few birdies.
“You’ve got to hit a lot of good irons on this golf course and today I hit them exceptionally well. 17 was another really good iron. I hit great irons into the second, fifth, sixth, tenth, 11th and 17th. There were a lot of solid golf shots out there today.”
English pair Ben Stow and Mitch Waite are one stroke off the leading trio at five under par, while there is a group of four players at four under par.
