Craig Hinton one round away from first win

 on MENA Tour in United Arab Emirates

By VIREN VARMA

RAS AL KHAIMAH — Craig Hinton has put himself within touching distance of claiming his first victory on the MENA Golf Tour going into the final round of the Ras Al Khaimah Classic at Tower Links Golf Club in the United Arab Emirates.

Starting the day in a share of the lead, Hinton broke clear of the field with a second-round 68 to reach nine-under for the tournament, one clear of his fellow Englishman and overnight joint leader Zane Scotland, who backed up his opening 67 with a 69. 

Spain’s Carlos Balmaseda matched Hinton’s 69 to occupy solo third on seven-under as England’s Daniel Owen carded his personal best 67 in a MENA Golf Tour event to haul himself back into contention a further shot adrift.

With just four shots separating the top 10, the prognosis points to a thrilling finish coming down the final stretch on Wednesday. 

A three-time runner-up on the MENA Golf Tour, Hinton sounded confident going the full distance this time around. “I have been driving the ball well and my putting has been pretty solid

“It’s just that I need to work a bit more on my iron and wedge play which is kind of so-so.” said the Englishman, who mixed five birdies, including four on the front nine with a bogey (at the 6th). 

Also seeking his maiden win on the tour, Owen went bogey-free in his second round, reeling of five birdies, including four on the back nine, to join experienced Miles Tunnicliff, also of England, for a share of fourth at six-under.

“I played really well. Gave myself a plenty of opportunities out there and holed some nice putts, especially on the back nine,” said Owen, who produced the highlight of the day on the 12th, draining a long 45-foot birdie putt 

“I have been striking the ball really good. It’s just that my putting felt so solid and decisive and that made the difference,” said 26-year-old Bahrain-based Englishman.

Spain’s Balmaseda, who is also a MENA Golf Tour ambassador, was quite pleased with his day’s efforts. “I have dropped just two shots in my first 36 holes which shows I am playing good golf. 

“Every part of my game is falling into place which is great. You never know what tomorrow holds, but I feel like I’m in great position to post my first win the tour,” said the Spaniard, who finished ninth in a Challenge Tour event in Madrid last week.

Top UAE amateur Rayhan Thomas carded a level-par 72 stay in the frame for a strong finish at three under. The young prodigy raced to four under after his first 10 holes, but a wayward drive on the 14th that resulted in a double-bogey undermined his efforts. 

Tied for 11th place overall, Thomas still leads the amateur division by a good four shots over Saudi Arabia’s Othman Almulla, who carded a second round 73.

Elsewhere, Andrew Marshall, a two-time winner on the European Tour, birdied the closing hole for back-to-back 70s, moving into a three-way tie for eighth on four under along with fellow Englishman Adam Sagar and Wales’s Stephen Dodd.

The halfway cut was made at five-over-par with 51 professionals and nine amateurs making it to the final round. The first group will go out at 7am on Wednesday while the final pairing of Hinton and Scotland tees off at 11.50.
SCOTSWATCH (by Colin Farquharson)

Renaissance Club member Ben Alexander, pictured, beat his fellow Scots - all pros - with a second-round 70 and it enabled the amateur to beat the cut by one shot with a 36-hole tally of  148 which has him T42 overall..
Dunbar's Danny Kay is the leading Scot in joint 11th place after a 72 for 141.
Paul Doherty, the former Scottish U18 boys' match-play champion, is T25 with a 75 for 144. A triple bogey 7 at the 17th was a bad blow for Paul.
Aberdeen's Clarke Lutton, who had his 28th birthday on Monday, matched the par of 71 for 147 and is T38. 

SECOND-ROUND LEADERBOARD
par 144 (2x72)
135 C Hinton (Eng) 67 68
136 Z Scotland (Eng) 67 69 
137 C Balmaseda (Spa) 69 68
138 D Owen (Eng) 71 67, M Tunnicliff (Eng) 68 70

SCOTS' SCORES
141 D Kay 69 72 (T11)
144 P Doherty 69 75 (T25)
147 C Lutton 75 72 (T38)
148 B Alexander (am) 78 70 (T42)


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