Marcel Siem continued his brilliant run at the Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Match Play as he beat Robert Rock on the first extra hole to advance to the semi finals at Golf Resort Bad Griesbach.
The home favourite is 124th in the Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex but has found his form in spectacular style and is now just two wins from a fifth European Tour title.
Englishman Rock was two up stood on the 15th tee but Siem - who had spoken about being inspired by the German crowd - made birdies on the 15th and 16th before sealing victory on the 19th with another gain.
The 37 year old will take on Johan Carlsson on Sunday morning after the Swede overcame defending champion Anthony Wall on the last.
Spaniard Adrian Otaegui is also through to the last four after a 2 and 1 win over German Alexander Knappe and will face countryman Alejandro Cañizares who beat England's Chris Paisley after 20 holes.
Play had been delayed by an hour in the morning after a heavy storm overnight dumped 22 millilitres of rain on the Beckenbauer Course with gusting winds of up to 63 miles per hour bringing down a tree and forcing the ninth tee to be moved.
The rain continued to fall throughout the day but the course held up very well thanks to some excellent work from the ground staff.
Rock took advantage of the par five third and when a par was enough for him to win the seventh, Siem was on the ropes. A birdie on the ninth got the four-time European Tour winner back in it but Rock birdied the 11th before making a mess of the 12th as the gap went back to one hole.
A Rock birdie on the 14th left Siem two down with four to play but he is made of stern stuff and produced that big finish to delight the home crowds.
"That was by far the toughest match," said Siem. "I don't know how many birdies we made on the back nine together but it was quite a lot. I was down all day and it was very tiring because you have to fight and dig deep.
"I have to take it shot by shot again tomorrow. It's match play and I love that. I love the pressure. Waking up in the morning buzzing already. I didn't sleep a lot every day here because I was kind of nervous and I love that. I love the match play format and I can't wait to go out there tomorrow and hopefully win."
A par was enough for Carlsson to win the second and he also claimed the fifth but Wall went birdie-birdie on the eighth and ninth to level things up at the turn. The 30 year old birdied the tenth for the fourth time this week to edge back in front but Wall was the next man to make the most of a par five at the 12th.
Carlsson edged back in front with a par on the 14th but Wall birdied the 17th and headed up the last for the third time this week, where a double-bogey saw him lose the grip on his title.
"It feels great," said Carlsson. "Anthony played really solid and hits the ball great and I feel very lucky.
"I just try to play my own game, that's what I've been trying to do the whole time. If you think too much about what the others are doing you can get in bad situations mentally."
A bogey from Otaegui handed Knappe the second but the home favourite returned the favour on the fifth before edging ahead on the next thanks to another Otaegui blemish. A birdie from Otaegui on the eighth made things level at the turn before a brilliant birdie-birdie-eagle run from the tenth took him clear.
Birdies on the 13th and 15th dragged Knappe back into the contest but the 2015 Qualifying School winner birdied the next and will go in search of his first European Tour win on Sunday.
"I feel good, it was a good match," said Otaegui. "We played some good golf, some good shots. I think it was good for the crowd. I really enjoyed playing and after winning I'm very happy."
Paisley made a fast start with birdies on the first and third but a par was enough to win the fifth for Cañizares and he birdied the eighth as the duo turned at all square. Paisley birdied the tenth but Cañizares hit back on the 11th and edged in front on the 13th before a Paisley birdie levelled things on the 15th. A Cañizares gain then sealed victory on the 20th hole.
"This morning it took us 21 holes and this afternoon it took us 20 holes," said Cañizares. "It's been a long day but it was a lot of fun. It was tough, both games were really tough, great battles. In the end it dropped my way.
"Playing Adrian will be something interesting. He's playing great. It's going to be a great match, two Spanish guys. It's a pity that we have to play in the semi final but it will be a lot of fun."
