American Bryson DeChambeau responded to a morning charge by Masters champion Patrick Reed with a second-round 68 to stay top of the Porsche European Open leaderboard.
The 24-year-old saw his overnight one-stroke advantage at the Hamburg event turned into a narrow deficit by compatriot Reed who carded a 66 before lunch to leap to eight under.
But DeChambeau hit back with four birdies in his last six holes – having been level par for his round through 12 holes after two birdies and two bogeys – to take him one clear of the field as he became the first man into double figures at 10 under.
Starting on the back nine Reed had three successive birdies from the 15th, meaning he has played the last four holes in six under par over the first two days.
He continued his run by picking up two more strokes in four holes after the turn before a short missed putt at the 475-yard sixth cost him his only dropped shot, but he bounced back with a further two birdies to sign for a 66.
“I hit half the greens yesterday and I missed three today,” said Reed in his post-round interview.
“I just went back and talked to my coach on the phone (after his first round) and he said, ‘Don’t over-think it’.
“I felt I could go into attack mode today and when my putter gets going I have the opportunity to make birdies.”
However, by the end of the day eight under was good enough only for a share of fourth place for Reed with Frenchman Romain Wattel and Scotland’s David Drysdale.
Essex’s Richard McAvoy produced the joint-best round of the week with six birdies, an eagle and just one bogey as he leaped into contention with a 65 which propelled him into a share of second place with Austrian Matthias Schwab.
Fellow Englishman Paul Casey got himself to six under through eight holes after four successive birdies but remained on that score as two bogeys coming home were mitigated by an eagle at the par-five last.
PA
