News All Articles
Southgate hits the front in Oman
News

Southgate hits the front in Oman

Matthew Southgate started round three with three birdies to jump out into the lead at the NBO Oman Open.

Matthew Southgate

Matthieu Pavon had entered the day at Al Mouj Golf with a two-shot lead but he dropped two shots in his opening three holes to be leapfrogged by Southgate who moved to 12 under.

Pavon was in a share of second at nine under alongside Adrian Otaegui and Chris Wood, with Julien Guerrier a further shot back.

Englishman Southgate showed his intent early with some impressive putting giving him a share of the lead after just two holes.

The 29 year old holed a slippery 18-footer on the first to get within one and when he hit a beautiful approach into eight feet on the second, he was 11 under.

France's Pavon had to hole a tricky putt of his own from the fringe on the first after sending his first effort off the green and he also hit a good approach into the second but could not make his birdie putt.

Southgate was flying and he got up and down from a greenside bunker on the par five third, holing a 20-foot putt to make it three birdies in a row and lead on his own.

That lead soon became three shots as Pavon made a mess of the third, finding sand off the tee, rough with his second, sand again with his fourth and a two-putt led to a double-bogey.

Spaniard Otaegui was making the big move of the day with a hat-trick of birdies from the third and another on the eighth saw him turn in 32. He then hit a stunning approach into the tenth for a fifth birdie of the day and he was alone in second.

England's Wood made an excellent par save on the first following a ragged tee-shot and took advantage of the third with a nice chip to move alongside Otaegui.

Frenchman Guerrier made birdies on the first and third but dropped a shot on the fourth before holing a lengthy birdie effort on the fifth.

Spaniard Jorge Campillo made six birdies in seven holes on the front nine to sign for a 66 and take the clubhouse lead at seven under, with Daan Huizing, Andrew Johnston and Fabrizio Zanotti also at that mark.

Read next