Zane Scotland displayed his ball-striking skills to haul himself back into contention with a seven-under 65 as he finished three shots off the pace going into the final round of the Abu Dhabi Open at Yas Links on Tuesday.
Starting the day a six shots behind, the 34-year-old Englishman enhanced his round with nine birdies, picking up four shots on the front nine and five on the home stretch, overcoming a double bogey on the ninth when his approach found the water.
• Round 1: Craig Hinton springs to front at Mena Tour's Abu Dhabi Open at Yas Links
The tournament low score thus far left Zane Scotland in third as his fellow Englishman Craig Hinton kept his nose in front, reaching 10 under after a second-round 68, two clear of Lee Corfield, also of England, who fired back-to-back 68s to remain within touching distance of the title.
The English duo of Liam Crawford and Joe Heraty shared fourth a further shot back on six under on a day when all players wore black ribbons as a mark of respect for great Arnold Palmer, who died on Sunday age 87.
Scotland said he was pleased to get his rhythm back. "Feeling good about my game for the first time in few weeks. I struck the ball really well and got into the zone on the back nine," Scotland, an 11-time winner on the Mena Golf Tour, said.
“The course is just stunning, but it is important to have a strategy for playing each hole as winds can make the course look totally different.”
Hinton, who is chasing his second win this season, started strongly with three birdies in a row before making the turn at four under. He picked shots on the 15th and 16th but back-to-back bogeys prevented him from further consolidating his lead.
“Played some good golf again, though dropped shots on the closing two holes were a bit frustrating. Going forward, the idea is to stick to the same game place and see where that leaves me,” Hinton, who won the Joburg Open earlier this season, said.
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