The Swede began the day six shots off the lead but hit five birdies and an eagle through the first 10 holes, and after a bogey on the 17th, another birdie on his last hole drew him level at the top at nine-under-par overall.

"It was tough out there," Svensson said after a day of strong winds at the Royal Golf Course.

"I set from the beginning to play quite conservative and we were playing for the big targets.

"For the first part of the round, it felt like every time I had the putter it had a chance of going in so it was nice."

Girrbach overcame a poor start hitting bogeys at the first two holes, and despite four bogeys overall, the Swiss player carded a two-under-par 70, after he began the round one shot behind overnight leader Tom Vaillant.

"It was a brutal start for me with two bogeys in the wind, it was a tough one early in the morning, but I stayed patient and happy with that finish," Girrbach said.

South African Frittelli birdied the last for a round of 68 to give him a share of the lead, with Alejandro Del Rey the closest contender, the Spaniard bogeyed the last to leave himself one shot off the trio.

Vaillant lost the lead after a one-over-par round but is still in contention just two shots behind the leading group.