Jamie Donaldson wasted little time racing into the lead when the final round of the D+D REAL Czech Masters began as the Welshman looked to cement a Ryder Cup place.
Donaldson started the day two shots behind compatriot Bradley Dredge, but two putted the long first, holed from 15 feet at the second and fired his tee shot to within two feet of the third pin for an opening hat-trick of birdies.
At 13 under par the 38 year old, needing a top-seven finish to secure a Ryder Cup debut next month, led by one from Dane Søren Kjeldsen, who matched the World Number 29’s birdies at the second and third after some great approach play.
Dredge, a runner-up in Denmark last week, had slipped to third after following two opening pars with a three-putt bogey at the third.
Donaldson’s drive at the fourth finished behind a tree and, after several club changes, he failed to find the fairway with his second and ran up a bogey.
That allowed Kjeldsen, who claimed the last of his three European Tour titles in Spain five years ago, to take the lead on 13 under with a birdie from ten feet at the fifth.
Donaldson was still on course to qualify for Gleneagles in second place, with Dredge still two off the lead in third.
Another Ryder Cup hopeful, Stephen Gallacher, was in a tie for fifth after two birdies and two bogeys in his first seven holes.
The Scot needs to garner as many Official World Golf Ranking points at Albatross Golf Resort and in next week’s Italian Open - the final qualifying event – in order to try and catch Graeme McDowell, who currently holds the final automatic place on Paul McGinley’s side.
