Rhys Enoch and Dale Whitnell will share the lead heading into the weekend at the 2021 Cazoo Classic as both men seek a career changing first European Tour win at London Golf Club.
Home favourite Whitnell followed up an opening 66 by stretching his bogey free run to 34 holes to move to ten under and it looked for a long time like he would lead on his own heading into day three.
But Welshman Enoch had other ideas, birdieing three of his last five holes in a bogey free 65 that matched the lowest round of the week.
Scot Calum Hill and England's Jordan Smith were at nine under, a shot clear of first round leader Richard Bland and Australian Maverick Antcliff.
Both of the leaders ended long waits for wins on the European Challenge Tour in 2019 and have taken the scenic route to the top of a European Tour leaderboard.
Whitnell turned professional shortly after being part of Great Britain and Ireland's 2009 Walker Cup side but did not secure a European Tour card until he came through the Qualifying School in 2019.
"It was solid," he said. "I haven’t missed many fairways today. The swing feels in good shape and I’ve just got to keep doing what I’m doing.
"I’ve never led a tournament. When I was fourth at Close House I was maybe one behind but I’ve just got to take all the experience I’ve had and hopefully it will stand me in good stead going into the weekend.
"This is what we’re all here for and fortunately I’m in that position this week so we’ll see what the weekend brings."
I’ve just got to take all the experience I’ve had and hopefully it will stand me in good stead going into the weekend - Dale Whitnell
Enoch is playing his 49th European Tour event this week and is still looking for a first top ten having never had full playing privileges after five trips to the Qualifying School.
"I had a little run through the mid part of the season, played nicely and almost led in Gran Canaria, so I’ve been putting myself up there," he said.
"I had a little bit of a four to six week spell where I felt a bit run down, a bit tired, lost a bit of game and hopefully that was rock bottom and I’ve come back up."
Smith joined overnight leader Bland at the top on his first hole of the day as he drained a 30 footer at the tenth, adding another gain as he got up and down on the par five 15th.
Another up-and-down on a par five at the fifth brought a third birdie of the day and Smith stayed bogey free as he set the target from the morning starters at nine under after a 69.
Whitnell soon set about reeling him in in the afternoon, making his birdie at the par five 12th, hitting a beautiful iron to nine feet at the 13th and holing a 30 footer on the 16th to share the lead. Another smart approach to seven feet saw him turn in 32 and the 33-year-old was the first man this week to ten under par.
Hill holed a spectacular long chip from the rough at the fifth for eagle and left himself a tap-in at the next as he continued his fine form from last week's Hero Open, where he finished in a tie for fourth.
He made another birdie after hitting the green in two at the 12th and left himself six feet at the 13th to sit alongside Smith after a 67.
I felt a bit run down, a bit tired, lost a bit of game and hopefully that was rock bottom and I’ve come back up - Rhys Enoch
Enoch holed from nearly 50 feet at the 13th and then took advantage of the 15th before putting a tee shot to seven feet at the 17th.
He repeated the trick at the par three third and after making a two putt birdie on the fifth, he holed a 20 footer on the seventh to get into a share of second. He missed his chance of a birdie at the par five eighth but made up for it on the ninth to hit the summit.
Bland three putted from the fringe at the second for a bogey but broke a run of 11 pars with an approach to seven feet at the 14th and moved into red figures for the day with a 20 footer from the fringe on the last.
Antcliff turned in level par but birdied four of his last six holes in a 68 to sit a shot ahead of England's Ben Evans, with Lucas Bjerregaard, Ashley Chesters, Ryan Fox, Stephen Gallacher, Niall Kearney, Toby Tree and Daniel van Tonder at six under.
