Freddy Schott produced an outstanding back nine to sign for a bogey-free eight under par round of 63 and take a one stroke lead after round two of Final Stage Qualifying School at INFINITUM.
The German, starting on the tenth at the Lakes course, made the turn one under par before a six-hole stretch from the first saw him card five birdies and an eagle to reach 12 under par the week, one stroke ahead of Spaniard Sebastian Garcia in second.
Schott, who is looking to regain his DP World Tour playing privileges this week, believes putting was key to being seven under through six holes after the turn.
“I gave myself a test on hole 12, which was my third hole,” he said. “I hit a bad tee shot and played a poor chip but holed that putt which gave me a boost and I did well after that.
“I got off to a bit of a slow start and missed a few opportunities here and there, making one birdie on the front nine. Then starting the back nine on hole one, I had a great number for my sand wedge, and was able to hit it close to made birdie.
“From that point I putted well. It didn’t matter where I hit it, I just seemed to have straight putts. That went on until the fifth or sixth hole. I gave myself some good chances throughout the back nine. I couldn’t take them on the last three holes but I’m very happy with my round today.”
The 22-year-old is teeing it up for the first time at Qualifying School and despite finding some form over the opening 36 holes, he’s not looking too far ahead with four rounds left to play in Tarragona.
“Being out here and shooting low has given me some confidence ahead of a long week,” he added. “There’s more tension in the air here than other tournaments, but on the other side of it, it’s almost more raw golf. There’s not much media, not many cameras, it’s just about the golf.
“I can’t really think about earning one of the DP World Tour cards yet. There are four rounds left and there’s a lot that can happen.”
Italian Filippo Celli sits in third place on ten under par alongside Welshman Jack Davidson and Denmark’s Sebastian Friedrichsen.
Overnight leader Jeppe Kristian Andersen is one shot further back in a share of sixth with Zimbabwean Benjamin Follett-Smith and Denmark’s Jonathan Gøth-Rasmussen.
The leading 25 players and ties at the end of six rounds at INFINITUM will secure a card on the DP World Tour.
Round three gets under way at 9:00am local time with Schott teeing it up alongside Celli and Garcia on the Hills course at 11:12am.
