Richard Sterne found himself in possession of a three-shot lead as he reached the turn on day four of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA after making a dream start to his final round.
The South African entered the day three strokes off the pace set by Shane Lowry but he carded six birdies and a single bogey in his first nine holes on Saturday to get to 19 under par.
Sterne got off to a lightning-quick start, making birdies at the first three holes to join Lowry at the top of the leaderboard.
The Irishman regained the outright lead after sending his tee-shot to within three feet of the cup at the short fourth before tapping in for a birdie to get to 18 under.
But there was a two-shot swing at the fifth as Sterne chipped in from just off the green for a birdie and Lowry missed his par putt to hand a one-shot advantage to his opponent.
Sterne was not in front for long, though, as he three-putted on the sixth green to drop his first shot of the day and Lowry made his par putt to remain at 17 under.
But six-time European Tour winner Sterne bounced back with a birdie at the eighth before another two-shot swing at the ninth put him three strokes ahead after Lowry put his tee-shot into the water.
