Defending champion Tom McKibbin hit what might be a contender for shot of the season in round two of the European Open as he kept his hopes alive for a successful defence of his maiden Tour title with a second round 71.
McKibbin’s shot on the 13th will live long in the memory as he found himself with a downhill lie in a bunker, 225 yards from the green, and hit a sublime driving shot which bounded, rolled and then hit the pin, stopping inches from the hole leaving him a tap-in birdie.
That shot put him on a run of four birdies on the spin, leaving him on eight-under par overall and McKibbin now finds himself just four shots off the pace being set by Guido Migliozzi who finished with a flurry of birdies to join Laurie Canter at the top of the leaderboard heading into the final round of the European Open.
The Italian started the day six shots behind overnight leader Canter but a bogey-free six under par round of 67 saw him join the Englishman on 12 under at Green Eagle Golf Courses as he looks to secure a fourth DP World Tour win.
The 27-year-old made two birdies on the front nine to make the turn in 33, before four more gains on the back nine, including three in his last four holes, put him into contention in Germany.
“I played great, I played solid, I was very focused on every shot. It was not easy to be in the present, but I managed the day today very well”, said Migliozzi.
“I feel more comfortable on the golf course, I’m having fun. I’m feeling the shots better so to have the power to have more consistency on the shots gives me more confidence.
“It’s good to be in the mix tomorrow. I’m just going to try to do the same: stay focused shot by shot and stay patient.”
Canter held a four-shot lead early in the round but dropped three shots in as many holes around the turn before fighting back to card a level-par 73 and return to the summit.
The 34-year-old is looking for a first DP World Tour win having finished runner-up on four occasions and was pleased with the way he was able to stay in the mix on the formidable Porsche Nord Course.
Dane Niklas Nørgaard sits in third place on 11 under par, while home favourite Jannik De Bruyn and Frenchman Tom Vaillant are a shot further back in fourth.
Eight-time DP World Tour winner Bernd Wiesberger posted a six under par round of 67 to move into sixth position on nine under, while McKibbin, Ivan Cantero of Spain and South African Jayden Schaper share seventh on eight under.
The final round will get under way at 7:40am local time, with Canter and Migliozzi teeing it up in the final group alongside Nørgaard at 12:05pm.