Mark Power just three back in UAE

Despite carding a third round of 69, Mark Power is three shots off the lead heading into the final round of the UAE Challenge.

Teeing off with a share of the halfway lead, Power performed admirably in unfamiliar territory in his early career, rolling in five birdies combined with two bogeys as he moved to thirteen-under.

The Kilkenny man, making his first HotelPlanner Tour start of the season is in solo fourth position.

Dan Erickson holds a one-stroke lead at Al Zorah Golf & Yacht Club in Ajman.

American Erickson fired a nine under par third round of 63 to tie the course record. The 26-year-old picked up five shots on the front nine, which included three birdies in row from the fourth hole, before adding four birdies on the back.

Erickson, who recently finished tied for sixth at the Porsche Singapore Classic on the DP World Tour, was delighted with his third round effort at Al Zorah after moving to 16 under par for the tournament.

“I am very pleased. I hit it nicely and putted nicely,” he said.

“I didn’t really have a good warm up but as soon as I got out there I kind of found something and rolled with it the whole day.

“I hit my approaches really well which I have been struggling with lately, especially some of the wedges in there were really solid strokes and well controlled.”

After earning DP World Tour status during last year’s Q School, Erickson is hoping his experiences on golf’s global tour will benefit him heading into the final round as he seeks his first HotelPlanner Tour victory.

“It was a great experience playing in the final group in Singapore and I’ll be in the final group tomorrow. That experience and just staying in the present while sticking to my process and just try and not worry about what everyone else is doing.

“I started working with a new coach and working on some good things. I want to stick to the process, get a little better day by day, and see where we are at the end of the year.”

Italian Renato Paratore and South African JC Ritchie are one shot back on 15 under par. Ritchie, who started the third round with a share of the lead, signed for 67, while Paratore, the 2020 Betfred British Masters champion, carded 64.

Royal Dublin’s Max Kennedy couldn’t make any progress up the leaderboard and lies in a share of 60th position on four-under after a 72.

The final round of the UAE Challenge will start at 07:40am, with Erickson, Paratore and Ritchie teeing off in the final group at 09:40am.