MENA TOUR REPORT AND SCORES

Aberdonian Lutton leads as Innes-Ker slips

out of lead in Ghala Open at Muscat

Aberdeen's Clarke Lutton, pictured above in action today, ensured the Scottish flag keeps flying at the Ghala Open after overnight leader Ted Innes-Ker slipped off the pace, going into the final round of the MENA Golf Tour’s event at Muscat, Oman today.

Two shots behind at the start, Lutton returned a tidy four-under 68 to reach seven-under 137 for the tournament, one ahead of England’s Luke Joy and two clear of Stuart Archibald and Lee Corfield, also from England.

Spain’s Sixto Casabona Navarro and Max Williams of England share fifth on four under on 14

Lutton rattled off five birdies against a lone bogey (at the 14^th) to keep his chances of winning the second event on the tour this season alive.

“It was a good, consistent round of golf as I never found myself in trouble out there. Holed some nice putts for birdies, especially the ones at 16th from 25 feet and the other at the 18th from 15 feet, which kind of lifted my round,” said the in-form Scot, who broke through for his first MENA Golf Tour victory at The Els Club earlier this month.

“It feels great to be in this position going into the final round and will see what tomorrow brings. I am feeling pretty happy with my game, which is good,” said the 27-year-old from Aberdeen. 

England’s Joy, who matched the day’s best score of a 68, said he played a lot better that he did in the first round. “Just solid golf and very happy with my round,” said the Englishman, who is a two-time winner on the tour.

The Duke of Roxburghe's son, Ted Innes-Ker, failed to recreate the brilliance of his first-round 67 and stumbled to a 78, slipping into a tie for 19th on one over 145

“I hit the ball in wrong places on the greens which made it difficult to roll in the putts. And that, perhaps, was the only difference from the first round,” said Innes-Ker, who is playing his fourth season on the MENA Golf Tour. 

“Maybe it was all due to the lack of course knowledge,” said the 31-year-old whose 78 contained six bogeys, including four in a row from the sixth.

England’s James Allan backed up his opening with 70 with a 75 to stay in front in the amateur division, one shot ahead of Karim El Hali of Morocco.

LEADING SECOND-ROUND SCORES

Par 144 (2x72)

137 C Lutton (Sco) 69 68

138 L Joy (Eng) 70 68

139 L Corfield (Eng) 70 69, S Archibald (Eng) 69 70.

140 M Williams (Eng) 70, 70, S Casabona Navarro (Spa) 69 71.

Other Scots' Scores:

143 P Doherty 73 70, D Kay 73 70 (T12)

145 T Innes-Ker 67 68 (T19)

150 B Alexander (am) 74 76

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