Muscat: Ahmad Marjan shot a course record and career-best seven-under 65 to join Fernand Osther on nine under to lead after day two of the Ghala Open — the penultimate round of the 16-stage Mena Golf Tour — on Tuesday.
The Moroccan carded eight birdies and a bogey while Dutchman Osther picked up five shots on the back nine after making the turn at two over en route to a 69.
Both are now two shots clear of Younus Al Hassani of Morocco and three shots clear of a four-man group that includes; Scotland’s Clarke Lutton, Craig Hinton of England, Fredrik From of Sweden and South Africa’s Luke Trocado.
Marjan said: “I didn’t miss anything out there. Everything was rock solid and everything was good. I drove the ball well, my iron play was spot on and I holed some solid putts.
“The good thing is that I have regained confidence in my driver which wasn’t the case recently. So, very pleased to get some momentum going this week.
“Going forward the plan is to keep things simple and see where that leaves me come Wednesday,” added the youngster who became the first player from the Mena region to win an event on tour when he won the Ras Al Khaimah Classic in 2014.
Elsewhere, English duo Benjamin David and Todd Clements carded matching 69s to share the lead in the amateur division on four under, one ahead of Chile’s Matias Calderon who returned a second-round 73.
Saudi Arabia’s Othman Al Mullah posted a 67 that marked a good 10-shot improvement over his first round score to lead the Mena Division by a shot over compatriot Khalid Attieh.
England’s Joe Heraty, who won the Sahara Kuwait Championship, missed the cut by one shot after carding a 78 that included a quadruple bogey on the 11th while defending champion Lee Corfield left himself with a mountain to climb, finishing the day seven shots off the pace.
The cut was made at three-over par 147 with 50 professionals and 10 amateurs making it to the final round.
