Laurie Canter holds on to European Open lead despite mid-round struggles

The Englishman started the day with a three-shot lead and had extended that to four after four holes but a serious wobble around the turn saw him fall from the summit before a birdie on the last got him back to 12 under alongside Italian Guido Migliozzi.

Canter was one the first wave of players to move to LIV Golf in 2022 but has been a reserve on the Saudi-funded breakaway for the last two seasons and is now back playing the bulk of his golf on his home circuit.

He has four second-placed finishes on the DP World Tour, including in Mauritius just before Christmas, but does not believe that was a factor as he saw his 36-hole advantage disappear in Hamburg.

"I really want to win," he said. "There's nothing for me to lose or worry about in that respect. I'm going to try and win the tournament.

"I felt like I tried to do that today. I felt at times today that round could have got away from me and turned to two, three over par. Hopefully that's the sticky round behind me."

After a two-putt birdie on the fourth, he missed a short putt on the eighth and surrendered a double-bogey after losing a ball off the tee on the 10th before hitting back with gains on the 11th and last.

Migliozzi made six birdies in a bogey-free 67 to sit alongside Canter, one shot clear of Denmark's Niklas Norgaard, who carded a 71.

Northern Ireland's Tom McKibbin will have the chance to defend his title after four birdies in a row on the back nine got him within four of the lead after a 71.