Three-way tie for lead at Shaikh Maktoum Dubai Open at Al Badia Golf Club

Gary King and Per Barth shot back-to-back four-under 68s to close the gap on overnight leader Paul Doherty of Scotland going into the final round of the MENA Golf Tour’s Shaikh Maktoum Dubai Open at Al Badia Golf Club on Tuesday.

England’s King, the winner of last week’s event in Abu Dhabi, mixed four birdies and an eagle (on the 18th) with two bogeys while Barth of Sweden lit up the back nine with five birdies after making the turn at one over to join Doherty, who settled for a level par 72, at eight under.

The English duo of Jake Shepherd and Luke Joy and Spain’s Xavier Puig also surged up the leaderboard, sharing third place a further three shots adrift on five under, one ahead of a group, which included Morocco’s Mehdi Sassi, who displayed his best stuff on the MENA Golf Tour, carding a neat 68.

A double-bogey on the par-4, sixth and a further dropped shot on the par-3, seventh prevented Doherty making any further gains though he played the back nine at two under.

It was Shepherd, who made the biggest charge, turning in the best score of the day to firmly put himself in contention for another strong finish.

“It was a good round, but nothing spectacular about it. My ball striking was so so, but putted great, which held it together,” said Shepherd, who boasts a first and tied fourth finish in his last two outings on the MENA Golf Tour.

“I feel like I’m in great position and if everything fall into place in the final round, I think I stand a good chance (of winning),” added the Englishman whose second round was highlighted by four birdies in a row from the fifth.

With four shots separating the top 10, the prognosis points to a thrilling finish coming down the home stretch on Wednesday as Morocco’s Saissi sounded confident of racking in a top five finish.

The 24-year-old prodigy started with a chip-in birdie from 40 yards and also finished in style, tapping in for birdie after his eagle putt from 15 feet agonisingly lipped out.

“It was kind of an up and down round, but I holed some good putts, especially the one on the ninth from 20 feet. But the highlight was certainly that chip-in on the first after I drove into the fairway bunker on the left.

“I feel a lot better with my swing. The confidence is back and it’s just a question of holing a few more putts. If I can do that, I stand a good chance of finishing among top five, which is the goal,” said Saissi, who turned professional in January earlier this year.
England’s Alex Wills backed up his opening level-par 72 with a 71 to lead the amateur division as favourites Rayhan Thomas of India (two over) and James Allan (five over) slipped down the leaderboard.
Elsewhere, England’s Joshua, the 2014 MENA champion, carded a level-par 72 to stay at one under while Morocco’s Faycal Serghini, a three-time runner-up on the MENA Golf Tour, settled for a second round 75 to as regular contender Zane Scotland stayed in frame for a title shot with back-to-back 70s.
The cut was made at four over 148 with 48 professionals and 10 amateurs making it to the final round.