Ewen Ferguson is primed to make it two wins in three years heading to the final round of the CB Qatar Masters in Doha.
Ferguson, 27, shares fourth place at nine-under after he produced the equal lowest round of the three days, a bogey-free six-under 66 that included his six birdies in a mid-round eight-hole run.
The trio of Japan’s Rikuya Hoshino (69), Frenchman Ugo Coussaud (67) and in-form Dane Rasmus Hojgaard (67) share the lead on 10-under.
Ferguson, who broke through in 2022 at Qatar for his first of two Tour wins, enjoys a three-way tie of fourth place at nine-under and with 31 players within five shots of the lead.
Clickety-click 6⃣6⃣ @EwboF @modestgolf @cobragolf
Equal low @CBQatarMasters @DohaGolfClub round of the week
✅ @TOURMISS @Record_Sport https://t.co/D276pUQm9I
— Golf & Science News (@TOURMISS) February 10, 2024
The Bearsden golfer said: “I got off to quite a slow start but felt like I was swinging it well but I came up with some with awkward numbers and couldn’t get it close, so it was hard to make a move
“I then hit it close on seven and also on nine for birdies, and then 10 and 11 and also 13 and 14, so it was a nice move in a tournament I love”.
If there was a key hole it was Ferguson’s par save at the par-4 15th where he landed his 146-yard second shot to 11-feet and holed the par putt on route to four closing pars and the lowest round of the week.
Ferguson is now looking to not only join Paul Lawrie as a repeat Qatar winner (1999 & 2012) but become a fourth double Qatar winner in this year’s 26th anniversary of the event.
He said: “I’m playing like I felt when I won around here two years ago, though it’s a hard course to hold onto for the four days, so I don’t mind going out there and trying to make some birdies.
“You don’t get many chances in golf to have the chance to win, so I will be giving it everything for sure”.
Scott Jamieson grabbed a second eagle in as many days, brilliantly finding the bottom of the cut with a 68-yard chip-in second shot at the par-4 14th on route to a four-under 68.
The Florida-based Scot had earlier birdied four of five holes from the sixth to 10th though sticking out on his scorecard like a dog’s hind leg is a triple-bogey ‘7’ at the par-4 12th.
Jamieson has fond memories of finishing third in the event five months ago to secure his 2024 Tour card.
Richie Ramsay, with a 69, is one shot further back at four-under while Stevie Gallacher signed for a 71 to be at one-under.
