Adam Gee made just a pair of birdies over the front nine but remained two shots clear of the field during the final round of the D+D Real Czech Challenge Open.
The Englishman looked like calmness personified playing in the final group at Golf & Spa Kuneticka Hora on Sunday, making five straight pars to begin his bid for a maiden Challenge Tour title.
Having identified the need to play more of the aggressive golf that has seen him shoot three consecutive rounds of 66 to lead by two on 18 under par heading into the final round, Gee looked unfazed by his solid if unspectacular start, as back-to-back birdies at the par four sixth and long seventh helped the Londoner reach 20 under par for the tournament as he reached the turn.
Two back as the afternoon progressed was Italy’s Andrea Pavan, who also made two birdies in his opening nine to stay within touching distance of the lead,while Francois Calmels’ four birdies on the front nine were somewhat tempered by dropped shots at the second and fourth holes as the Frenchman remained three off the lead, just as he had been at the start of the day.
It had been a nightmare start for the third man in the final group on Sunday, as Adrian Otaegui opened up with back-to-back bogeys.
A hat-trick of birdies to close out the front nine got the Spaniard back under par for the day, though, three off Gee’s solid lead.
Elsewhere, there were Sunday surges from Dutchman Wil Besseling, who finished his front nine with an eagle and two birdies on the spin to turn in just shots and climb into the top 20, while double 2013 Challenge Tour champion Brooks Koepka matched that total after beginning on the back nine to reach 12 under par as the tournament built towards its conclusion.
The final day's play was being contested in three-balls and off two tees with a threat of lightning forecast for the afternoon, but the skies were clear and temperatures high as the day continued.
