Al Ain: Jose Bondia Gil matched the day’s best score of seven-under 64 to close the gap on overnight leader Joshua White heading into the final round of the Golf Citizen Masters Al Ain on Tuesday.

The 23-year-old Spaniard made five birdies on the front nine and two coming home in his bogey-free round to move to 12-under, just one shot behind White, who followed his course record-breaking 62 with a 67 to stay atop a crowded leaderboard.

Local knowledge came in handy for Tom Buchanan as the head professional of Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club made a big move, shooting a flawless 65 to sit in solo third on 10-under, just one ahead of England’s Zane Scotland, who returned a 64 that firmly vaulted him into contention on nine under.

With England’s Daniel Owen and Spain’s Xavier Puig moving into fifth place a further adrift, the prognosis points to an exciting finish when the leaders come down the home stretch on Wednesday.

A close battle is shaping up in the Mena Division as well with Lebanon’s Peter Badawy hitting the front on seven under with a second round 67, one ahead of Morocco’s Younus Al Hassani, who carded back-to-back 68s.

Starting the day four shots off the face, Bondia Gil showed impressive composure to make a brilliant charge up the leaderboard.

“I really played well. All the stuff that I am working on the mental side of my game is paying off. I was pretty calm on the course which was the key,” said the Spaniard, who turned professional earlier this year ahead of the Morocco leg of the Mena Golf Tour.

“It feels good to be in this position going into the final round, but nothing can be taken for granted. The course offers plenty of scoring opportunities and anybody can go low in the final round. Even guys who are five shots back have a chance to win the tournament,” said Bondia Gil.

Local hero Buchanan, who has been a model of consistency in the tournament thus far, kept up the good work and is looking forward to a crack at the title. “I have missed just three greens in the last two days.

“The course is in great condition and if you can hole the putts you can come off with a good score. Still, there is a lot of golf to be played. Let’s see how things shape up,” said 34-year-old Scotsman, who has made just one bogey in his last 36 holes.

England’s White stumbled out of the gate with back-to-back bogeys on the third and fourth, but recovered well and played steady golf for the rest of the day to stay one clear at the summit. “I didn’t have the best possible start, but managed to grind out a steady round.

England’s James Yeomans and Morocco’s Mahdi Saissi share the lead in the amateur division on five under with Antoine Maes occupying solo third on four under. It was Michael Harradine who made a big move, carding a 67 to move to three under.