Dodd sizzles to take joint lead with Scotland

Rabat: Stephen Dodd fired a flawless five-under-par 68 on Wednesday to share the lead with Zane Scotland going into the final round of the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, the opening event on the MENA Golf Tour.

The experienced Welshman, who was five shots off the lead overnight, picked up five birdies, including three on the front nine, without dropping a shot to join overnight leader Scotland, who settled for a level par, at the summit.

With the two former European Tour players going head to head in the final group, the prognosis pointed to a thrilling finish, reviving memories of their duel at last year’s Dubai Creek Open, which the Englishman won on the closing 54th hole.

With Morocco’s Younes Al Hassani snapping at the heels of the leaders, two shots adrift, the script could well take an interesting twist coming down the home stretch.

Al Hassani, who is familiar with every blade of the grass on this Robert Trent Jones-designed course, followed his first round 72 with a solid 70 to stay in contention for the title at four-under 142, one ahead of England’s Ian Keenan.

Ahmad Marjan, a young amateur from Morocco, overshadowed his more renowned compatriots with tidy rounds of 73 and 71 to keep alive his hopes of posting his top-five finish on the tour.

The day, however, belonged to Dodd, a three-time winner of the European Tour. “I played nicely and am pleased with the day’s work,” said Dodd, the winner of the 2012 MENA Golf Tour Order of Merit title.

“Things weren’t easy out there. First, we had to play in the rain and then the wind picked up later on. The first nine and back nine just played differently,” said the 47-year-old Welshman.

“It feels nice to be in this position going into the final round. Let’s see what happens in the final. I will do my very best.”

A nagging backache affected Scotland’s game and he just couldn’t strike the ball freely. “It was kind of an up and down round. My tee shots, especially, were a bit tricky due to back pain.

“In the end, I did well to hang in there and stayed strong. I had this feeling that Stephen would do well today and really did. He is a great player, everyone knows that.

“It will be fun playing with him. I will try and concentrate on my game. Whatever happens, happens,” said Scotland, adding: “It’s all square, and the real battle begins in the final round.”

Morocco’s Al Hassani also sounded confident of closing the deal. “I have played here many times and know what it takes to shoot low. If I continue to play the way I am [playing], I can expect a good finish,” he said.

A new initiative by the Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation, the MENA Golf Tour is supported by Omega and Mercedes-Benz. It is affiliated to the Arab Golf Federation and the R&A, golf’s governing body, and boasts a combined prize fund of $575,000 (Dh2.1 million), including $75,000 for the Tour Championship.