Matthew Southgate, Julien Guerrier and Joost Luiten tied for NBO Oman Open lead
Sunday 18 February 2018 20:58, UK
Matthew Southgate, Julien Guerrier and Joost Luiten are tied for the lead heading into the final round of the NBO Oman Open.
The trio concluded Saturday's third round on 12 under, making the most of Matthieu Pavon's bad day to move to the top of the leaderboard with 18 holes remaining.
Pavon had started the third round two shots ahead of the field, but his lead soon evaporated thanks to a double-bogey at the par five third and further dropped shots at the fifth and eighth.
The Frenchman stemmed the damage at that point, but nine pars coming home left him on eight under and with an uphill battle ahead to try and get back among the leaders.
Luiten and Guerrier made the biggest moves of the day with matching rounds of 66.
Dutchman Luiten battled back from his sole dropped shot at the 15th with two birdies in his last three holes to secure his place at the top of the leaderboard.
Guerrier had a couple of bogeys on his Saturday card, but managed six birdies and a superb eagle, which came at the reachable 12th.
Southgate had taken the lead early in the day, birdieing the first three holes and passing Pavon when he birdied the third in a three-shot swing.with his playing partner.
But he would be forced to battle back to the head of the field after dropping shots at the fourth and sixth, and then suffering his own nightmare at the par five seventh, where he double-bogeyed.
Southgate's rally was an impressive one, with birdies at the ninth, 11th and 12th getting him back on track, and another shot was gained at the last as he joined Guerrier and Luiten on -12.
For a while, it appeared Chris Wood had top spot to himself, having moved to 13 under with three birdies in four holes from the 13th.
But Wood will have to come from a shot behind on Sunday after he dropped shots at the final two holes.
Spain's Adrian Otaegui is sitting two shots off the pace after a bogey-free 66, with another Frenchman Alexander Levy on nine-under and well in touch after a 67.
