McKibbin contending in Qatar with Purcell just three back in Cape Town
Tom McKibbin produced a back-nine birdie charge to surge into contention for his second DP World Tour win in the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.
The Holywood star (21) turned in level par at Doha Golf Club before racing home in four-under to post a 68 that left him just one stroke behind leaders Rasmus Højgaard, Ugo Coussaud and Rikuya Hoshino heading into Sunday’s final round.
“It was very solid,” said McKibbin, who made a 10-footer at the 10th, an eight-footer at the 12th, a six-footer at the 16th before brushing in a seven-footer at the last for his fifth birdie of the day.
“Started slow on the front nine; it was playing tricky enough. To get through the front nine level, which I think I did most days, was solid.
“Gave myself a target on the back nine to go two or three under and thankfully went one better, so overall, it was a good day.”
McKibbin broke through at the Porsche European Open last year, and he knows that patience will be key on Sunday.
“It’s very tricky,” he said. “Once you get a few opportunities and don’t take them, it’s very easy to make a mistake or hit a decent tee shot that just runs through into the rough.
“With the greens being firm and windy, you have to stay patient and not try to force it.”
Højgaard posted a bogey-free five under 67 to join Coussaud (67) and Hoshino (69) at the top of the leaderboard after the third round.
The trio lead the way on ten under par with McKibbin tied for fourth with Denmark’s Niklas Norgaard and Scotland’s Ewen Ferguson on nine-under.
“Most of the round was very solid today,” said Hojgaard, who is chasing his fifth DP World Tour win. “I was good out the tee box, gave myself some good chances and rolled a few in as well.
“Coming down the last few holes were a few poor swings, but I managed to keep it bogey-free, which makes me happy.
“Conditions today are a lot better than the previous days, but you’ve got to hit good shouts out there. I could’ve made some bogeys out there, but the putter saved me a couple of times.”
At the Challenge Tour’s Bain’s Whisky Cape Town Open, Conor Purcell carded a level par 72 to slip back to tied 16th heading into the final round at Royal Cape.
But at eight-under-par, he’s still just three shots behind Sweden’s Mikael Lindberg, who shot 65 to lead by a shot on 11-under from South Africans Michael Hollick, Thomas Aiken, Louis Albertse and Ryan van Velzen; Frenchmen Robin Sciot-Siegrist and Martin Couvra; and Englishman Sam Hutsby.
Two-under through the turn after birdies at the second and seventh, Purcell bogeyed the par-five 11th and the 18th, but he still feels he has a great chance.
“I lost a lot of momentum when I bogeyed the 11th and compounded a few errors back to back on a few holes.
“Then I bogeyed the last to shoot level but still in with a great chance.”
Just three shots cover the top 15 and Purcell knows a low final round could be priceless.
“If it’s calm, I’ll have to shoot something in the mid-sixties or even,” the Portmarnock golfer said. “I’ll just see what happens and try to make as many birdies as I can.
“For my first event of the year, being in contention going into Sunday is always what you want, so I’m looking forward to it.”
At the LET’s Magical Kenya Ladies Open, Lauren Walsh shot a two-over 75 to go into the final round tied for 16th on level par.
She’s nine shots behind Italy’s Alessandra Fanali and Singapore’s Shannon Tan, who shot six-under 67s to lead by five strokes from Phillippine's Samantha Bruce on nine-under.
Olivia Mehaffey made five birdies in a rollercoaster 73 to lie a shot behind Walsh in 21st on one-over.
Mehaffey was four under after ten holes but double-bogeyed the 13th and 17th and bogeyed the 16th before finishing with a birdie.
