Pepperell, the 2018 champion, holed from 40
feet for birdie on the 18th to sign for a four-under-par 68 at
The Belfry and move to 10-under for the tournament.
World Number 45 Robert MacIntyre, fellow Scotsman Calum Hill are
among the contenders on nine-under, along with Adrian Meronk,
Dean Burmester, Guido Migliozzi and Edoardo Molinari - who
carded the lowest round of the week with a 64.
Pepperell was in the world's top 35 when he won this event two
years ago but has since struggled for consistency and began this
week in 210th.
After an impressive round containing five birdies and a single
bogey, Pepperell said he was still working on his swing.
"I've been awful, to be honest, so I don't feel that confident,"
he said.
"I've still got things going on in the swing that I can feel
aren't where they once were and can cause me aggro so the game
still feels difficult.
"I can remember the game feeling easier when I was playing
better a few years ago but that's where I'm trying to get back
to and I'm confident I will.
"I'm having a good time out on the course but I'm very much
still in the process."
English duo Dave Coupland and Andy Sullivan were at eight-under
alongside South Africa's Justin Harding and Austrian Matthias
Schwab, with tournament host Danny Willett among the group three
shots off the lead.
(Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru; Editing by Christian
Radnedge)
[© 2021 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2021 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content. |
|