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Matthew Fitzpatrick, Pelle Edberg lead Czech Masters after 36 holes

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Matthew Fitzpatrick, Pelle Edberg lead Czech Masters after 36 holes

 
VYSOKY UJEZD, Czech Republic (AP) – Matthew Fitzpatrick and Pelle Edberg both shot a 5-under 67 on Friday to share the lead after the second round of the D+D Real Czech Masters.
 
It was the second flawless round for the 20-year-old Fitzpatrick  at the Albatross Golf Course near Prague.
 
"It was very consistent today," said the Englishman, who won the 2013 U.S. Amateur and was the world's top-ranked amateur before turning pro. "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."
 
Fitzpatrick holed a 20-foot putt for eagle on the par-5 12th and finished his round with his third birdie of the day on the 18th for an 11-under total of 133.
 
"The putt on the 18th was a nice way to finish with a birdie, to pick up one more and move to the top," he said.
 
The 36-year-old Edberg of Sweden had six birdies, including four on the front nine, and a bogey.
 
"Like yesterday I putted really well," Edberg said. "I holed a lot of putts and it was good off the tee and had some nice irons, so it added up to a good score."
 
Both Fitzpatrick and Edberg are seeking their first European Tour victory.
 
Thomas Pieters of Belgium, who starred at the University of Illinois, was one shot back after carding a 68.
 
Fitzpatrick, Edberg and Pieters were all in a group of four to start the second round one stroke behind overnight leaders Eduardo De la Riva and Renato Paratore. De la Riva only managed a 76 to plummet down the leaderboard, while Paratore was tied for ninth after a 73.
 
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