In-form Scottish boys' champion Thomas 

still in the mix at Dubai Open

FROM VIREN VARMA

DUBAI— Andrew Marshall barely took his foot off the pedal as he returned another bogey-free round to take a two-shot lead after the second and penultimate round the MENA Golf Tour’s Shaikh Maktoum Dubai Open at Al Badia Golf Club today.

Playing solid golf from tee to green, European Tour veteran Marshall backed up his opening 68 with a 67 to reach nine under parfor the tournament, taking a big stride towards clinching his second title in his debut season on the MENA Golf Tour.

In-form Rayhan Thomas, winner of the Scottish boys' stroke-play championship during the summer and who won the Dubai Creek Open last week, kept himself firmly in the frame for back-to-back titles.

The  Indian-born, Dubai-based teenager returned an impressive 68 to occupy solo second on seven under, one ahead of defending champion Per Barth.

Barth matched the day’s low score, a 67, to haul himself back into contention, going into the final round as a three-man group which included Morocco’s Younes El Hassani, Hamza Amin of Pakistan and England’s Joshua White shared fourth on five under.

Elsewhere, overnight leader Fredrik Lindblom of Sweden carded a 73 to slip into a tie for seventh on four under while the English duo of Zane Scotland and Danny Poulter shared 35th on four over par.

The cut was made at five-over 149 with 45 professionals and 10 amateurs making it to the final round.

SECOND-ROUND SCOREBOARD

Par 144 (2x72)
135 Andrew Marshall (England) 68 67
137 Rayhan Thomas (India) (amateur) 69 68
138 Pert Barth (Sweden) 71 67

SELECTED SCORES
143 Daniel Kay (Sco) 72 71 (T15)
147 Daniel Hendry (Sco) (amateur) 71 76 (T28)(
148 Zane Scotland (England) 73 75 (T34)

MISSED THE CUT  (154 and better qualified)
157 Clarke Lutton (Sco) 79 78, Michael Stokes (Sco) 78 79
158 Paul Doherty (Sco) 79 79



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