Gavin Green took a three-shot lead after day two of the D+D Real Czech Masters with two eagles and five birdies in a round of 63 at the Albatross Golf Resort.
The Malaysian, looking for his first DP World Tour win, finished strongly to head two-time winner Thomas Pieters, Marcel Schneider and Richard Mansell who were tied for second on 11 under.
Overnight leader Louis de Jager and Maximilian Kieffer were a shot further back.
Green went ahead with his second eagle of the day on the first hole having equalled what he did when teeing off from the tenth.
Green's pair of eagles and birdies on 11, 12 and 14 meant he claimed the individual lead with eight holes still to play.
Another birdie on eight meant Green went to 13 under and a closing birdie sent him three shots clear of the field on 14 under after a 63 which was not a new course record because of preferred lies.
Pieters had four birdies in his second round for a flawless 68 to add to his first round 65 and set the early clubhouse lead at 11 under.
Mansell had started his round with a birdie but sandwiched two more around a bogey on five before hitting top form around the turn.
He chipped in from a bunker on ten for an eagle to join the group on ten under before another birdie on 12 saw him draw level with Pieters.
The Englishman went level with Green on 12 under with a birdie on 16 at the same time as the Malaysian's birdie putt lipped out on six.
But a bogey on the last dropped Mansell back to 11 under alongside Pieters and Schneider.
Bunker magic from @richardmansel14 😊#CzechMasters pic.twitter.com/rKsRohTygi
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) August 19, 2022
Green had surged further ahead with a birdie on eight and followed it up with another on nine to lead by three.
He admitted that a recent trip to see his coach had paid dividends.
"I went to see my coach after one of the PGA Tour events, the Barbasol or Barracuda, and we did a small tweak and that has kind of helped me and just made me more consistent," said Green.
"It's still a work in progress, it's just a step by step process and I'm just kind of trying to hit good shots and if it happens it happens and hopefully the bad shots are not really bad.
"I'm just in there trying to enjoy my game, play as well as I can, hit the shot that I need to and hopefully make some putts. Just really enjoy the weekend."
Pieters was back enjoying his golf after taking a month off.
He said: "I tend to do well after a big break. I just shut it down for a week and do something completely different – be a dad.
"It refreshes the mind, makes me hungry to come out and play and compete again. I feel like I’m ready every time I come back.
"I’m doing a lot of things very well, a couple of things to work on – spin control was not very good today. But I’m very happy to be 11 under par.
"Iron play, driving, everything was pretty good. I had a couple of good saves for par as well. All in all I’m pleased, even though I missed some chances coming in."
