Clarke Lutton Storms Four Shots Clear In MENA Tour’s Golf Citizen Classic At Els Club.

Scotland’s Clarke Lutton enjoyed another great day at work, firing a sizzling six-under 66 to take a commanding lead as a career-best 67 propelled Morocco’s Ayoub Lguirati to the top in the amateur division going into the final round of the MENA Golf Tour’s Golf Citizen Classic at The Els Club on Tuesday.

One shot in front overnight, Lutton reeled off seven birdies, including three in a row from the 16th, against a lone bogey to reach 11-under for the tournament, a good four shots ahead of England’s Stuart Archibald and Trevor Marshall of New

England’s Zane Scotland, a nine-time winner on the tour, shot a tidy 68 to join Germany’s Aaron Leitmannstetter for a share of fourth on five under as four players, including Lguirati, were tied for sixth a further shot adrift.

The 27-year old Aberdeen born Lutton, who is now based in Dubai, started strongly with a birdie on the first and never took his foot off the pedal all day for his lowest score on the MENA Golf Tour.

Scotland's Clarke Lutton storms to four shots clear with a round to play in the MENA Tour event at the Els Club in Dubai.

Scotland’s Clarke Lutton storms to four shots clear with a round to play in the MENA Tour event at the Els Club in Dubai.

“I was pretty relaxed out there and hit a lot of good shots and made lots of good putts,” said the Scotsman. “You never know what tomorrow holds, but I feel like I’m in great position.”

“I’ll just go out and try to play the same way as I played in the first two rounds and see what the outcome is,” added Lutton, who considers The Els Club as his home England’s Archibald was equally pleased with his efforts that matched the day’s best score of a 66. “I hit my approach shots a lot closer (to the pin), giving myself enough realistic birdie chances. I may have left some shots out there, but overall I putted well,” said the Englishman who opened with a 71 on Monday.

“The course is playing well, maybe a little bit longer than it did during the DUBAi Open last December. It’s a bit on the softer side which means you still have a chance to hit the greens if you missed the fairways,” said the 31-year-old.

Playing a consistent tee-to-green game, New Zealand’s Marshall also vaulted up the leaderboard with a bogey-free 67. The talented UAE-based golfer made the turn at two-under and picked up another three shots on the back nine to put himself in contention for his maiden title.

An interesting battle is shaping up in the amateur division with just two shots separating the top four.

In sparking form off the tee, a vastly-improved Lguirati was just as good with his irons as he shot a 67 to move to four under, one ahead of India’s Rayhan Thomas and Slovakia’s Jakub Hrinda and two clear of Saudi Arabia’s Khaled

“I am really pleased with my game. Everything fell into place, which is great. If I can keep the momentum going, I think I stand a good chance of racking up a strong finish,” said the 21-year-old Moroccan from Agadir.

Elsewhere, England’s Miles Tunnicliff, a two-time winner on the European Tour, slipped to one-under after a 73 while Morocco’s Amine Joudar backed up his opening 72 with a 73 to lead the MENA Division (professional) on one over.

The cut was made at four over 148 with 43 professionals and 10 amateurs making it to the final round.



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