Law grabs two-stroke lead at Mena Tour’s Ras Al Khaimah Classic

Six birdies on first 12 holes pushes Scot into a two-stroke lead before Wednesday's final round at Tower Links Golf Club.

David Law will try to improve on last week’s runner-up finish in Dubai with a win at the Ras Al Khaimah Classic. Final round is Wednesday. Courtesy Mena Tour

RAS AL KHAIMAH // David Law entered the Mena Tour event this week with one comparatively simple thought in mind.

To improve his position by one spot from last week.

Of course, that leap represents the biggest developmental step in professional sport.

A week after he finished second in Dubai, Law fired a four-under 68 on Tuesday in the second round to seize the lead at the Ras Al Khaimah Classic at Tower Links Golf Club.

Two shots off the pace overnight, the Scot ran off six birdies in his first 12 holes and finished at nine-under, which was good for a two-stroke lead over South Africa’s Tyler Hogarty and Sweden’s Andreas Finn heading into Wednesday’s final round.

“Overall, I played pretty well,” said Law, 22. “I am looking forward to the final round tomorrow. If I can keep the momentum going, I think I stand a good chance of winning the title.”

He finished second to Order of Merit leader Zane Scotland last week at the Sheikh Maktoum Dubai Open. Scotland, with three wins this year, is five shots back with MG Keyser and Sebastian Heisele at four-under.

“I’m feeling good about my game, and hopefully, I will be able to get the job done this time around,” said Law, an Aberdeen native who turned professional in 2011.

“I have been in this situation quite a few time and know what to expect.”

Law will likely need to navigate the closing stretch more successfully. He picked up bogeys on two of the final five holes on Tuesday, including the par-5 18th.

Craig Hinton was alone in fourth after a 70.

England’s Yasin Ali made the biggest move of the day with a five-under 67 that put him on the front page of the leaderboard at two-under.

“I kept the ball in play and played par 5s much better than I did yesterday,” said the Asian Tour veteran, who eagled the fifth, slamming his 8-iron approach from 180 yards to within two feet of the pin.

“In fact, I have been playing quite well this season, often going two or three under in a round, but invariably ended up with one of two horrendous holes and that kind of undermined all the good work.”

Morocco’s Mustapha El Maouas shot 70 to move atop the amateur division at one-under overall, three shots clear of his nearest challengers.

Leaderboard

David Law (SCO) 135

Tyler Hogarty (RSA) 137

Andreas Finn (SWE) 137

Craig Hinton (ENG) 139

Sebastian Heisele (GER) 140

MG Keyser (RSA) 140

Zane Scotland (ENG) 140

Jonathan Fransson (SWE) 141

James Westwood (ENG) 141

Shafiq Masih (KSA) 141

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