Eddie Pepperell launched himself right into contention for a second consecutive Challenge Tour victory in the early stages of the third day at the Telenet Trophy after the young Englishman carded a superb six under par round of 65 to move within two shots of the lead.
Pepperell won on his first appearance this year at the ALLIANZ Open Côtes d’Armor Bretagne two weeks ago with a nerveless performance that belied his 21 years and he was right back in the mix again at Ravenstein Royal Golf Club of Belgium.
The former Portuguese Amateur Championship winner brushed off an early blip with a bogey on the first to card eight birdies in breezy conditions, his only other dropped shot coming at the ninth hole.
He finished with three successive birdies from the 16th hole to move just two shots behind overnight leader Marco Crespi as the Italian, who bogeyed his first hole of the day.
Another Italian joined the race for the title as Nicolo Ravano signed for a five under par round of 66 to move to four under par for the tournament.
Alexandre Kaleka and Olly Whitely, who both began the day in tied second place, started steadily with a par each on the opening hole, while John Parry bogeyed the first.
