Friday 9 October 2015 19:22, UK
Matthew Fitzpatrick continued his fine start to the British Masters with a birdie at the last giving him a share of the lead at Woburn.
Fitzpatrick stroked home from seven feet on the 18th hole to complete a battling round of 69 to leave him nine-under par heading into the weekend.
The 21-year-old is playing on the European Tour for the first time this season, with three top-three finishes from his last seven events placing him 36th in the Race to Dubai.
Despite his rapid improvements in recent weeks, Fitzpatrick said he does not feel under pressure to win at the British Masters, which is being played for the first time since 2008.
"I learned a lot from this year really," said Fitzpatrick. "Been top-three three times. Just got to keep working at it for me. A good practice this afternoon, just to make sure everything is on track and look forward to tomorrow.
"Hopefully it [winning] will just come with time. Like I've said to everyone, it's not something that I'm absolutely chasing at the minute. I'm not focused on it. It's more moving up the World Rankings. If I don't win between now and Augusta, get in Augusta through the World Rankings and I'll be a happy man."
Another Englishman thriving at Woburn is Richard Bland, whose second-round 67 placed him one shot behind co-leaders Fitzpatrick and Soren Kjeldsen.
Bland, who recently broke into the Top-100 on the European Tour, said he was pleased with how he reacted to a bogey-bogey start, ending the day with five birdies and an eagle.
"[It was] not the start I was looking for really. And also to sort of compound it, I dropped a silly shot on 9 late on last night from the middle of the fairway," said Bland. "So I kind of felt like I had just given three shots to the field in three holes even though one was last night.
"I tried to stay patient. I knew I was playing well enough to give myself chances. Fortunately, when I did give myself chances, I pretty much took them."
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