Abu Dhabi: Gary King broke free from a first-round three-way tie to take the sole lead heading into the final round of the Ascorp Abu Dhabi Golf Citizen Open at Saadiyat Beach and Golf Club on Tuesday.
The 25-year-old Englishman backed up his opening five-under-par 67 with a 68 to reach 10-under, three ahead of compatriots James Allan, who carded a bogey-free 66, the day’s best round, and Jake Shepherd, the winner of last week’s Dubai Creek Open.
Scotland’s Daniel Kay, who returned a 70, occupied fourth on his own a further shot adrift, as overnight pacesetters Joshua White of England and Morocco’s Faycal Serghini both slipped down the leaderboard following over-par rounds.
White, the 2014 Mena Golf Tour champion, moved into a tie for 11th after a 75, while Serghini settled for tied fifth following a 73.
The experienced Moroccan, however, leads the Mena Division for the Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation Award by one shot over his compatriot Ahmad Marjane, who shot a brilliant 67 to move up the leaderboard.
However, the day belonged to King, who is playing his fourth event on the Mena Tour since making his debut at Rabat earlier this season.
The Englishman found his scoring touch after a slow start, playing the last eight holes in five-under, highlighted by an eagle on the par-five 11th.
The two-time winner on this season’s EuroPro Tour said: “I am really pleased with my efforts. Every part of my game is falling into place, which is great.
“I didn’t have the best of the starts as I double-bogeyed the par-three third after going into a greenside bunker, but played great thereafter.”
The 25-year-old from Surrey, a professional for seven years, added: “The highlight of my round was certainly that eagle on the 11th, when I hit my five-wood from 260 yards to within two feet of the cup and then picked up three shots in the last five holes. You never know what tomorrow holds, but I feel like I’m in great position and looking forward it.
“I have been into this position a couple of times this season and know what it takes to get the job done.”
Allan attributed his bogey-free round to a fine all-round display. “I hit the ball really well off the tee and created many scoring opportunities. More importantly, I made them count, which wasn’t case in the first round. I’m really pleased with my efforts,” he said.
India’s Rayhan Thomas, who nearly won the Dubai Creek Open last week before bowing out in a three-way play-off, continued his good run of form after moving to second place behind England’s Allan on three-under.
After making the turn at level par, the 15-year-old prodigy rattled off three birdies in a row from the 10th to return a fine 69, firmly putting himself in contention for a title shot in his division.
Elsewhere, England’s Zane Scotland carded level par to reach three-over after 36 holes, while defending champion Luke Joy, also from England, went to two-over after a second-round 72.
