Jose Bondia-Gil matched the day’s best score of seven-under 64 to close the gap on overnight leader Joshua White going into the final round of the Golf Citizen Masters Al Ain yesterday.
The 23-year-old Spaniard made five birdies on the front nine and two coming home in his bogey-free round to move to 12-under, a shot off of White, who followed his course-record 62 with a 67 to stay on top of a crowded leaderboard.
Local knowledge came in handy for Tom Buchanan as the Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club head professional made a big move, shooting a flawless 65 to sit third on 10-under, one ahead of England’s Zane Scotland, who returned a 64 that has him in contention on nine-under.
With England’s Daniel Owen and Spain’s Xavier Puig moving into fifth place a shot further adrift, it all points to an exciting finish in the final round today.
A close battle is also shaping up in the MENA Division, with Lebanon’s Peter Badawy hitting the front on seven-under with a second-round 67, one ahead of Morocco’s Younes El Hassani, who carded his second successive 68.
Starting the day four shots off the pace, Bondia-Gil charged up the leaderboard with a brilliant front nine.
“I really played well. All the things that I am working on the mental side of my game is paying off. I was pretty calm on the course, which I think was the key,” said the Spaniard, who turned professional earlier this year ahead of the Morocco leg of the MENA Golf Tour.
“It feels good to be in this position going into the final round, but nothing can be taken for granted.
"The course offers plenty of scoring opportunities and anybody can go low in the final round.
"Even guys who are five shots back have a chance to win the tournament.”
England’s White stumbled out of the gate with back-to-back bogeys on the third and fourth, but recovered well and played steady golf for the rest of the day to stay one clear at the summit.
“I didn’t have the best of starts, but managed to grind out a steady round. You never know what tomorrow holds, but I have a positive mindset going into the final round,” said White, the winner of the Royal D’Anfa Open, the opening event on the 2014 MENA Tour schedule.
