Scot Alexander slips out of lead with a 

second-round 76 in Oman

MUSCAT HILLS, Oman — MENA Golf Tour debutants Christofer Blomstrand and Julian Kunzenbacher firmly put themselves in pole position heading into the final round of the Muscat Hills Golf Citizen Championship on Tuesday.

Sweden’s Blomstrand backed up his opening round of a 67 with another solid 68 to reach nine under for the tournament, just two clear of Germany’s Kunzenbacher as the pair left many regular contenders trailing in their wake.

Morocco’s Younes El Hassani carded back-to-back 69s to move into a tie for third on six-under along with Australia’s Ryan Smith as a four-man group, led by Sweden’s Per Barth, who won the Shaikh Maktoum Dubai Open last month, shared fifth a further shot adrift.

Attributing his solid all-round golf to warmer weather, Blomstrand said: “I find it a lot easier to swing in these conditions than at back home where winter has set in, signally the end of the golf season for many.

“Barring early hiccups when I bogeyed a couple of holes, I think I played really well, tee to green, and holed some good putts, especially the one on the 16th which I sank from 16 feet.

“This event has provided me with a perfect opportunity to warm up for the second stage of the European Tour qualifier. With so many players shooting in red numbers, it just shows how good is the standard of golf on the tour,” said the 23-year-old from Skanor, 30km south of Malmo.

Even Kunzenbacher was delighted the way things have turned out for him. “It’s my very first event on the tour and I am enjoying the competition. The course is fairly easy and it’s just that sometimes you find it difficult to read the greens.

“When you play golf, you play to win. And I will be taking this positive mindset into the final round,” said the 22-year-old German, who eagled the par-five 13th, smashing his 6-iron from 200 yards to within 40 centimetres of the pin.

Morocco’s Younes El Hassani, who leads the MENA Division by four shots from his compatriot Mehdi Saissi, fancies his chances of a racking up a top-three finish.

“Slowly, but steadily I am getting back into the groove of things. I have made nine birdies and just three bogeys in the last 36 holes, which is nice. My driving is good and so is the iron play. If I can hole a few more putts, I stand a realistic chance of finishing among top three,” said the experienced professional from Tangiers. 

Scot Ben Alexander (Renaissance), 21, who shared the overnight lead with Blomstrand, Stuart Archibald and Cyril Suk after opening with a 67, stumbled to a 76, but managed to stay in front in the amateur division at one where he is joined by India’s Rayhan Thomas, who followed his opening 70 with a 73.

Elsewhere, England’s Archibald moved to five under after returning a level-par 72 while Czech Republic’s Suk carded a 74 to stay in the frame for a good finish at three under along with England’s Joshua White, the 2014 MENA Golf Tour champion.

The cut was made at four over 148 with 45 professionals and 10 amateurs making it to the final round.
LEADING SCORES