Gary Boyd and Ashley Chesters both impressed on moving day at the Big Green Egg German Challenge powered by VcG to share a one stroke lead going into the final round in Neuburg.
The English duo both reached eight under par for the week, with Boyd carding a three under par round of 69 and Chesters a four under par 68 to edge ahead of Italian Francesco Laporta.
Boyd birdied his opening hole and, after giving that shot back at the fifth, made birdies either side of the turn and added another on the 15th to move in front.
Chesters also got off to a good start, birdieing the first and third holes before parring the remainder of the front nine. A bogey at 11 was his only blemish of the day, with birdies at 12, 15 and 18 moving him level with Boyd, and the 33-year-old was pleased with his work, particularly on the greens.
“I holed out for pars really well and that’s what’s been missing for most of the year,” he said. “It was nice to be standing over a six-foot putt thinking that the hole looked quite big, compared to it looking very small which it has done lately.
“I didn’t drive it so well today. The last few weeks I’ve actually driven the ball well and not putted so well, so hopefully I can get both of them working tomorrow.
“The course is playing quite tough. The fairways have been firm since we got here on Tuesday but the greens have really started to firm up. If you’re not on the fairway off the tee now, you’re really struggling to stop it on the green.”
Chesters, who will go in search of a maiden Challenge Tour win tomorrow, is pleased to have given himself a chance going into the final day.
“I’ve been struggling for a couple of years so it’s just nice to be at the right end of the leaderboard,” he added. “Whatever happens tomorrow, it’s so much nicer being there on the final day rather than at home, wishing you were there.”
Laporta birdied the last to move into solo third on seven under par, one shot ahead of Frederik Birkelund from Denmark, who posted a round-of-the-week 65, and Swede Christofer Blomstrand.
German favourite Max Rottluff is one shot further back on five under par alongside Roope Kakko from Finland and Swede Kristoffer Broberg.
The final day in Germany gets under way at 7:20am local time with Chesters and Boyd teeing off alongside Laporta at 11:30am.
