IRELAND’S PAUL DUNNE is still in contention at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, despite carding a one-over par 73 on Saturday.
The Greystones golfer finished the third round in a tie for 17th place, four strokes behind leader Tyrrell Hatton after a birdie on the ninth hole was cancelled out with two drop shots on the back nine, leaving him on nine-under par.
Hatton, however, has emerged as a major talent on the European Tour and the Englishman shot a four-under third round of 68 to top the leaderboard on 13 under, but Dustin Johnson is among the big guns breathing down his neck.
The 25-year-old won the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship last year and was fourth in the Race to Dubai after a second-placed finish at the DP World Tour Championship.
Hatton, who has ended up in the top 10 in seven of the last 11 events he has entered, recorded four birdies on the back nine – including one at the last – after hitting the turn in 36, having made his only bogey of the day at the fourth.
While Hatton is in pole position, the world number 23 will need to finish with a flourish given the rivals who are within striking distance.
U.S. Open champion Johnson surged into contention on moving day, matching the best round of the week with a magnificent eight-under 64.
The world number three was battling jet lag earlier in the week, starting with a disappointing 72, but is now flying high courtesy of an eagle at the eighth and six birdies.
Martin Kaymer, the leader by a solitary shot at the halfway mark, is still well in the hunt to win this event for a fourth time after a level-par 72 left the German in a share of second spot.
The consistent Tommy Fleetwood, Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Pablo Larrazabal are also joint-second on 12 under.
Open and Race to Dubai champion Henrik Stenson, Alex Noren and Lee Westwood are among five players three shots adrift of Hatton.
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
