Power lurking in UAE title bid

Dan Erickson on the 14th hole on day three of the UAE Challenge. Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images

Mark Power is just three shots off the lead heading into the final round of the UAE Challenge on the HotelPlanner Tour.

The Kilkenny man (24) made five birdies in a three-under 69 to sit alone in fourth place on 13-under at Al Zorah Golf & Yacht Club in Ajman.

American Dan Erickson fired a nine-under-par 63 to tie the course record and lead by a shot from Italy’s Renato Paratore and South Africa’s JC Ritchie.

“I am very pleased,” said Erickson, who recently played in the final group Porsche Singapore Classic and finished sixth. “I hit it nicely and putted nicely.

“I didn’t really have a good warm up but as soon as I got out there I kind of found something and rolled with it the whole day.

“I hit my approaches really well which I have been struggling with lately, especially some of the wedges in there were really solid strokes and well controlled.”

Royal Dublin’s Max Kennedy carded a level par 72 to share 60th on four-under.

At the Investec SA Women’s Open, Lauren Walsh trails France’s Perrine Delacour by seven strokes with a round to play in Cape Town.

The Kildare talent shot a two-under 70 to share 13th on five-under at Erinvale Country and Golf Estate.

Delacour also shot 70 to lead by two shots from South Africa’s Kiera Floyd on 12-under.

Castlerock’s Annabel Wilson shot 77 to slip to 34th on two-under with Elm Park’s Anna Foster a shot further back in 44th after a 72.