England’s ultra-talented Matt Fitzpatrick is poised for a victory swooop firing a sizzling five-under 67 to join compatriot Luke Joy atop the leaderboard heading into the final round of the MENA Golf Tour’s Shaikh Maktoum Dubai Open at Al Badia Golf Club on Tuesday.
Starting the day in a tie for 14th at one-under, Fitzpatrick carded two bogeys and seven birdies, five of the gains coming in the first nine holes which he covered in 32 to move to six-under 138 along with Joy, who followed his first-round 70 with a 68, playing bogey-free golf for 36 holes.
Czech Republic’s Cyril Suk was placed solo third a further shot adrift after a second-round 68, one stroke ahead of Stuart Archibald of England and Patrick Simard (Spain) as three shots separated the top five players, promising an exciting finish to the $50,000 tournament.
Matthew Fitzpatrick ready to make a victory swoop in maiden MENA Tour event.(Photo – David Lloyd/www.golffile.ie)
It was Fitzpatrick who held centre-stage with a fine performance on the front nine, in particular. “It was a good day out there, again enjoyed playing on this course which is in great condition. It feels nice to be in this position, but for me it’s about building on good rounds and play hole by hole,” said the 20-year-old Yorkshireman, who is also a golf in DUBAi ambassador.
“I know a couple of guys who are playing on this tour and they are very good, like Zane (Scotland) and Stephen (Dodd). The field is quite competitive which is good for the tour,” said the Englishman, who finished solo eighth in the Challenge Tour’s Kazakhstan Open on Sunday.
About his second round, he said: “Nothing in particular stood out, but making those three birdies in a row (from the seventh) was nice and so was the birdie finish.”
The winner of last week’s Dubai Creek Open, Joy was equally pleased with his efforts. “I don’t think I have ever played bogey-free golf for 36 holes. Quite happy with my golf and looking forward to the final round,” said the 26-year-old from Bournemouth.
Defending champion Zane Scotland slipped to a tie for 29th on four over after carding a 76 while Stephen Dodd, a three-time winner on the European Tour, recovered some ground with a second round 71, an improvement of six shots from his first round of 77.
Younes El Hassani of Morocco leads the MENA Division for the Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation Award, moving to one-over 145 after rounds of 73 and 72, two shots ahead of compatriot Faycal Serghini and four off Ahmed Al Musharrekh who led the division on Monday after opening with a 70.
Leading scores after second round (par 72)
138 – Luke Joy (England) 70 68; Mathew Fitzpatrick (England) 71 67
139 – Cyril Suk (Czech Republic) 71 68
141 – Stuart Archibald (England) 70 71; Patrick Simard (Spain) 67 74
142 – Paul Doherty (Scotland) 67 75; Bernhard Neumann (Germany) 68 74; Chris McDonnell (England) 72 70
143 – Lee Corfield (England) 72 71; Carlos Balmaseda (Spain) 75 68; Xavier Puig (Spain) 74 69
144 – Craig Vance (amateur-England) 73 71; Gary Munro (England) 68 76
145 – Yasin Ali (England) 69 76, Younes El Hassani (Morocco) 73 72; Jose Bondia Gil (Spain) 71 74
