Svensson leads in Prague, Saffa shoots 63

Stimpmeter · August 17, 2024, 5:45pm

Jesper Svensson held a one-shot lead with one round remaining in the D+D Real Czech Masters after shooting 68 on a weather-affected Saturday.

Storms in Prague forced a three-hour delay during the third afternoon but Svensson remained unflappable, completing a bogey-free 68 to reach 16 under par.

Second-round leader David Ravetto was one shot behind after a 70 while English trio Andrew Johnston, Brandon Robinson Thompson and Ross Fisher shared third place with France’s Adrien Saddier.

South Africa’s Robin Williams became the third player this week, after Ravetto and Johnston on Friday, to shoot 63 – the best score seen at the Kyle Phillips-designed course since it opened in 2020.

Williams made seven birdies, adding an eagle courtesy of a 27-foot putt at the par-five 9th.

He was in a four-way tie on 13 under with Richie Ramsay, Francesco Laporta and Andy Sullivan.

Svensson’s round got off to a fine start, driving the first green and making an excellent two-putt from over 70 feet and then adding another birdie with a 34-foot putt at the 3rd.

He parred his way to the turn and birdied the 11th just before the stoppage, returning to pick up another stroke at the 13th.

He rescued a wayward 16th tee shot with a chip out onto the fairway and a 311-yard three wood into the heart of the green to set up par and a nerveless two-putt at the last gave him a one-shot lead ahead of a final day surrounded by uncertainty over the weather.

“It’s just great to be in a good position for tomorrow,” he said. “I didn’t really think about it but managed to stay away from bogeys today, again struck the ball nicely but hopefully the putter’s a bit hotter tomorrow.”

Asked about the prospect of a second DP World Tour win, following March’s Porsche Singapore Classic, he said: “It would be something else. There is still a lot of golf to be played but yeah, that would be nice.”

Ravetto had to fight to build on Friday’s 63, a joint course record, as he dropped shots at the 2nd and 7th and needed back-to-back birdies into the turn – a fine approach to the 8th followed by a superb chip over bunkers at the 9th – to get out in under par.

He responded well to another bogey at the 12th with birdie at the next and put himself at the forefront of the chasing pack with a superb approach to set up birdie at the 16th.

“I’m pretty happy, pretty excited,” he said. “It was a solid day, I didn’t have my best golf but I managed to shoot two under so I’m pretty happy.”

Ravetto is searching for his maiden DP World Tour win, having lifted the trophy at February’s Dimension Data Pro-Am on the Challenge Tour, and said: “It would mean a lot, it would be a huge step.

“Obviously we’re all human so I’m thinking about it, but I’m trying not to think about it too much.”

Saddier followed an opening par with three straight birdies and though he gave one back at the 6th, a fourth gain at the 9th saw him out in 33.

A bogey at the 10th was wiped out by three birdies in four holes from the 12th to complete an impressive 67.

Robinson Thompson, winner of last week’s Farmfoods Scottish Challenge supported by the R&A on the Challenge Tour, continued his consistent week with a bogey-free round featuring birdies at the 4th, 10th and 13th.

Fisher made his move with three birdies in five holes from the 13th to end the day on 14 under.

Photo: Octavio Passos/Getty Images

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