Alejandro del Rey will take a two-stroke lead into Ras Al Khaimah after shooting a perfect 66 on Saturday to pass Marcus Armitage at the top of the mountain The final round of the tournament.
Del Rey, who is seeking his first DP World Tour title, lived dangerously at times in the third round but managed to reach 16 under before Sunday's fourth round. Taking bogey out of his hand.
The 26-year-old started the day two shots behind half-time leader Armitage but took the lead at the turn after three birdies on the front nine.
Despite some errant tee shots, Del Rey made further progress on the 14th, 17th and 18th holes, putting more space between himself and closest challenger Armitage , Armitage finished second at 14 under after shooting a 2-under 70, 5-under. Tied for third ahead of Jason Scrivener, Shaun Norris and David Ravetto.
Del Rey's two-shot deficit stretched to three early Saturday when Armitage birdied the first hole, but the Spaniard fought back, chipping in from the second green and then hitting He made consecutive birdies on the third hole and won. Just one shot away from the lead.
With Armitage missing his shot on the fourth hole, Del Rey built a slight lead and then hit the front himself with a ten-foot birdie putt on the eighth hole.
Del Rey managed to safely negotiate the tricky hole around the turn and then hit his tee shot into home territory on No. 14 for a birdie there.
A good up-and-down shot from the greenside bunker kept Del Rey in the lead on the 15th, and he extended his lead on the 17th when the homegrown hitter of the week caught the youngster from close range. bird. .
After teeing off on the 18th hole, he made another birdie to reach 16 under par.
Del Rey, who won the Big Green Egg Germany Challenge Powered by VcG on the European Challenge Tour 2022, said: “I’m delighted. I thought I might not perform as well as the last few days but I got what I missed Got a couple shots and then my bunt game was really good today.
“I think I put a number in my head and that's what I want to get. Really, we (Del Rey and playing partner Armitage) are competing against each other, but I think mainly tomorrow, when it depends on each other hour.
“So today it was more about doing my job and sticking to it.
“I was a little lucky today. I felt like I left some balls around the golf course the other day. Today, there were probably a couple of good bounces on No. 12, No. 18 and No. 10.
“At the end of the day, yes, I was lucky, but I made good use of it. I left it all there.
“I’ve won on so many different tours and places around the world and feel like I know how to get it done.
“You have to believe in yourself, go out there and do your best. I think I know how to finish the game, so I'll try to do that tomorrow.”
Briton Armitage said: “Today was a little different, but that's golf, isn't it. One day you feel like you're perfect and the next day you feel like you've just started over.”
“My short game was really good today, so that’s a big positive starting today and we have a chance going into tomorrow.
“There's a new challenge today and I'm enjoying it. Let's see what happens tomorrow.
“I can't control how Alejandro plays. He played great today. Played some unbelievable golf and I can't control him, so I just have to do what I can. Hats off to him because He had the upper hand today.”
Asked what his game plan was for Sunday, Armitage smiled and added: “Attack him. Let's have him. That's the only thing, let's have him.”