Oihan Guillamoundeguy, Mark Power and JC Ritchie share a one-stroke lead at the halfway stage of the UAE Challenge at Al Zorah Golf & Yacht Club.
South African Ritchie carded a two under par round of 70, while Frenchman Guillamoundeguy and Irishman Power both fired five under 67s as the trio reached ten under par and head into the weekend with a one-shot advantage.
Ritchie, a four-time HotelPlanner Tour winner, entered the second round in a share of the lead and after carding five birdies and three bogeys he was pleased to remain at the top of the leaderboard.
The 31-year-old dropped a shot on 17 but bounced back brilliantly with a remarkable bunker shot on the 18th to seal a closing birdie.
“That’s one of those where you fool around with your friends on a day off when you play some chipping games,” he said. “Luckily, I managed to knock the bunker shot on 18 close and make the putt.
“I took a little bit of time to get going this morning on the front nine. As soon as the wind picked up, I seemed to settle in a bit more. I think the wind is always going to pick up around midday. I think the course is just starting to get a little bit drier and the greens are firming up a touch.”
Guillamoundeguy made nine birdies, two bogeys and one double bogey in his second round of 67 and the 20-year-old was thrilled to finish on a positive note with back-to-back birdies.
“I hit two good shots and made two birdies in a row to finish so that’s really good,” he said.
“I am feeling good; I love the place. I have some friends who came here to support me, so I am feeling good, and I am ready for this weekend.”
Power, making his first HotelPlanner Tour start of 2025, made three back nine birdies to play his way into contention.
“It’s my first event on the HotelPlanner Tour this year so I’m very happy even though I feel like I left some shots out there,” he said.
“It started off quite windy and played very differently to yesterday. It was a bit of grind on the front nine but luckily the wind dropped and it was target golf towards the end.”
Englishman Will Hopkins and Danish duo John Axelsen and Christoffer Bring share second place on nine under par, while Belgian James Meyer Beco, Scotsman Euan Walker, England's George Bloor and Spanish trio Adri Arnaus, Albert Boneta and Victor Pastor are a shot further back.
The third round of the UAE Challenge will get under way at 8:00am local time, with Guillamoundeguy, Power and Ritchie teeing it up in the final group at 10:00am.
