AR
By Kent Gray
Henric Sturehed will take a seven shot lead into the final round and a ringing endorsement from his nearest challenger into the future regardless of what transpires on Thursday at the MENA Tour Championship.
The 27-year-old Swede started the penultimate round of the Pro-Am circuit’s 15-event season five ahead courtesy of a course record 63 on Tuesday and extended the buffer with a third round 67 at Al Zorah G.C.
Sturehed is -18 through 54-holes with Andrew Marshall (-11) seven back after a 69 and English compatriot Jamie Elson (-9) nine adrift following a 70. More importantly, Elson retains pole-position for the overall title with his closest rival Luke Joy -5 after a 72 and Swede Fredrik From, third in the order of merit rankings heading into the week, -7 following a 70.
Former major champions Michael Campbell and Darren Clarkem, the latter the MENA Tour’s patron, visited Al Zorah Wednesday and will have been mightly impressed by Sturehed scoring. Playing partner Marshall certainly is.
“He is a superb talent,” Marshall said of Sturehed who notched up six of his seven birdies (against two bogeys) Wednesday on the front nine to effectively slam the door on his rivals. “I’m very impressed with his game. He is strong off the tee and accurate with his irons. He has great potential and I absolutely believe he will go far,”
Marshall signed for a third round 69.
Sturehed will understandably stick to a tried method in the final round.
“My game plan is to just play my game and try and make as many birdies possible, and the rest will take care of itself,”
Taylor Carter birdied two of his final three holes as he shot a two-under 70 to stay atop in the amateur division on four-under, two strokes clear of fellow Englishman Sam Hobday with Todd Clements lurking a further back on one-under.
