Steven Tiley carded a five under par round of 67 to move into the clubhouse lead on 11 under midway through the second day at the D+D Real Czech Challenge Open at Kunetická Hora Golf Club.
The Englishman, who became a father for the first time recently, leapfrogged compatriot and overnight leader Robert Dinwiddie, who could only sign for a level par round of 72.
Tiley started the week with a six under par 66 and he continued that momentum early in his round as the 30 year old had back to back birdies at the second and third holes, the latter coming thanks to a converted 25 foot putt.
His only bogey of the day came at the fifth hole before his second shot with a rescue at the par five seventh went to 40 feet and he duly two-putted for another birdie.
He gained another shot at the 10th before another superb shot with a rescue club, to three feet, left him with a tap-in for birdie at the 12th.
An eight iron approach from the fairway bunker at the 15th landed four feet from the hole for another birdie and, despite coming close to further birdies at the 16th and 18th holes, Tiley was delighted with his round.
“I played nicely,” said Tiley. “I have given myself lots of chances and putted well and when you do that then you’re going to get birdies. It was solid stuff really so I’ve been happy so far this week.
“I changed my driver before The Open Championship and I have been driving really well.
“It’s always good to be up at the top, you’d rather to be up that end than be down the bottom. I’ve been playing nicely so whatever happens you know your game is good so I just have to keep myself in and around the top and see what happens.”
Chris Doak, winner of last week’s ALLIANZ Open de Lyon, continued his purple patch with a six under pars second round of 66, which left him two shots off the lead, while Dinwiddie, Joachim B Hansen of Denmark and Finland’s Mikko Korhonen were a shot further back.
