Fitzpatrick, Edberg share Czech Masters lead

England's former US Amateur champion Matt Fitzpatrick and Pelle Edberg of Sweden shared the lead at the halfway stage of the Czech Masters on Friday.

Fitzpatrick, just 20, carded three birdies and an eagle in a round of 67, giving him an 11 under par total.

That was matched late in the day by Edberg who likewise added a 67 to his opening 66.

Three players, Sam Hutsby and Robert Dinwiddie of England, as well as Denmark's Thorbjorn Olesen, are three shots off the lead heading into the weekend at the Albatross Golf Resort.

"It was very consistent today," said Fitzpatrick, who was runner-up in Switzerland last month and has four top 10 finishes already in his rookie season.

"I played nicely and hit a lot of greens again which is always important to keep making pars and then take your chances when you have them."

Meanwhile, Vitek Novak marked his home event in style when he became the first Czech player in 21 years to make the cut at a European Tour event.

The 19-year-old amateur posted a four under par second round of 68, which included three consecutive birdies from the fourth hole, for a three under par total 141.

Jiri Janda, at the 1994 Czech Open, was the last Czech golfer to reach the weekend of a Tour event.

"I'm very happy to shoot what I did today. It's just amazing. The last Czech guy who made the cut was 21 years ago and I wasn't born," Novak told europeantour.com.

"My goal was to make the cut. I am still in the process of getting better and better, and I'm hoping to go to college in the States to help me improve."
Source: AFP