Gallacher hits the front with back nine bonanza defending his Omega Dubai Desert Classic title
The joint lowest back nine to par in European Tour history has put Stephen Gallacher in pole position to successfully defend his Omega Dubai Desert Classic title.
The Scot, who started the day on seven under par, was finding the going tough in the early stages of day three, but blitzed his next ten holes in ten under par to sign for a round of 63 and finish two shots clear of Rory McIlroy on 16 under par.
By coming home in nine under par 28, he equalled the lowest score to par set first by Spaniard José Maria Cañizares in the 1978 Swiss Open, and later matched by Swede Joakim Haeggman in the 1997 Alfred Dunhill Cup and England’s Simon Khan at the 2004 Celtic Manor Wales Open.
Gallacher will have the chance to create yet more history on the final day, when he will bid to become the first player to successfully defend the Omega Dubai Desert Classic title.
He said: “I don’t know where to start. I struggled at the start to be honest. I was a bit ropey for the first three or four holes. Then I hit a good shot into the seventh, but missed the putt.
“I bogeyed eight, and was feeling out of sorts but then I hit a beautiful drive and seven iron to about three feet on the ninth, and from then on, I just never missed a shot. It’s the best back nine I’ve had here, by far.”
Gallacher will be joined in the final group by McIlroy, who signed for a 69 for a 14 under par aggregate total.
Third round scores
200 S Gallacher (Sco) 66 71 63;
202 R McIlroy (Nir) 63 70 69;
204 B Koepka (USA) 69 65 70; T Olesen (Den) 71 68 65;
205 E Molinari (Ita) 65 72 68; R Rock (Eng) 67 70 68; S Webster (Eng) 71 70 64;
206 R Kakko (Fin) 69 69 68;
207 D Fichardt (RSA) 69 72 66; D Van Der Walt (RSA) 72 70 65; E Grillo (Arg) 71 67 69; J Donaldson (Wal) 69 68 70; D McGrane (Irl) 66 70 71;
208 T Jaidee (Tha) 68 69 71; B Wiesberger (Aut) 70 70 68; P Waring (Eng) 70 70 68; R Wattel (Fra) 68 73 67; R Sterne (RSA) 66 73 69;
209 J Luiten (Ned) 70 69 70; C Montgomerie (Sco) 70 70 69; P Casey (Eng) 70 72 67; A Wall (Eng) 74 66 69; F Molinari (Ita) 69 69 71; M Crespi (Ita) 69 71 69; S Hansen (Den) 67 71 71; M Baldwin (Eng) 66 74 69; D Willett (Eng) 71 65 73; R Jacquelin (Fra) 69 71 69;
210 C Doak (Sco) 71 68 71; T Björn (Den) 72 70 68; J Van Zyl (RSA) 71 68 71; S Kjeldsen (Den) 68 71 71; H Otto (RSA) 68 73 69; M Madsen (Den) 71 67 72; B Rumford (Aus) 69 70 71; J Campillo (Esp) 68 72 70;
211 S Kim (Kor) 70 69 72; P Lawrie (Sco) 68 71 72; T Woods (USA) 68 73 70; R Cabrera-Bello (Esp) 71 69 71; M Ilonen (Fin) 69 72 70; S Hend (Aus) 69 72 70; L Slattery (Eng) 70 71 70; R Karlsson (Swe) 73 67 71; P Larrazábal (Esp) 74 68 69; S Dyson (Eng) 69 69 73;
212 M Siem (Ger) 72 67 73; E De La Riva (Esp) 70 70 72; M Carlsson (Swe) 69 69 74; F Zanotti (Par) 72 70 70; S Kapur (Ind) 72 70 70; S Jamieson (Sco) 73 69 70; S Benson (Eng) 72 70 70; M Kieffer (Ger) 71 70 71; S Noh (Kor) 69 72 71; C Wood (Eng) 73 69 70; G Bourdy (Fra) 71 68 73; H Stenson (Swe) 70 67 75; J Walters (RSA) 69 68 75;
213 J Quesne (Fra) 66 70 77; K Broberg (Swe) 71 69 73;
214 G Havret (Fra) 70 72 72; F Couples (USA) 70 71 73;
215 C Del Moral (Esp) 70 72 73; G Stal (Fra) 74 68 73; A Quiros (Esp) 69 72 74; M Hoey (Nir) 70 72 73; A Cañizares (Esp) 74 67 74;
217 A Levy (Fra) 69 72 76; J Lima (Por) 71 71 75;
218 T Lewis (Eng) 71 69 78
