RIYADH: Chile’s Joaquin Niemann will take a narrow one-shot lead into Saturday’s final round of the PIF Saudi International after firing a six-under 65 on Friday to move to 17-under-par.
Niemann leads Americans Peter Uihlein (66) — who is heading The International Series’ rankings list and has proved his winning pedigree with two victories already this season — and 20-year-old Caleb Surratt, who smashed the course record at Riyadh Golf Club with a 10-under 61 on Friday.
Behind them lurk a host of world-class talents and proven winners, including Britain’s three-time European Ryder Cup player Tyrrell Hatton (66), who shares joint fourth spot with two more Americans — Jason Kokrak and Logan McAllister — on 15-under.
It is still anyone’s guess who will emerge as Saturday’s winner at the Golf Saudi event, and Niemann said afterwards that he knew he would need to be at the top of his game again to take away the handsome silver trophy.
He said: “I don’t know what score would do it. All I know is that it will have to be lower than the others.”
The Chilean has so far been a model of consistency this week, sandwiching first and third rounds of 65 with a 66 on Thursday. On Friday he needed to stay patient, having to wait 10 holes before he added another birdie to his opening two at the first couple of holes.
His round really caught fire on the par-5 15th with an eagle three, and he finished off in style with a birdie at the last to take the slimmest of leads.
Earlier, the focus had been firmly on American Surratt, who only turned professional at the start of the year but has already shown considerable promise in his first handful of tournaments.
That rich potential was translated into a string of eight birdies and an eagle at the long 12th hole to leave him 16-under-par.
The young prospect from Indian Trail, North Carolina, who has yet to win a professional tournament, could hardly believe his own sizzling form, especially on a course that he had never played until this week.
His score could have been even more impressive but his chip just off the green for birdie at the par-4 18th hit the pin and rolled just a couple of inches away.
Surratt said: “It would mean everything (if I win). I don’t have half the experience a lot of these guys do, so I need to keep my head together and play like it’s with my friends back home.”
Saturday’s final round should be a feast of thrilling golf for the sellout crowd at Riyadh Golf Club.
Joaquin Niemann takes 1-shot lead into final round of PIF Saudi International
https://arab.news/r8qms
Joaquin Niemann takes 1-shot lead into final round of PIF Saudi International
- The Chilean has been model of consistency this week, sandwiching first and third rounds of 65 with 66 on Thursday
- Focus earlier had been firmly on American Caleb Surratt
Saudis need extra time to end Palestine’s dream Arab Cup run and claim semi-final spot
- The Green Falcons dominated the first half but the breakthrough came early in the second when Salem Al-Dawsari drew a foul in the box and Feras Al-Buraikan converted the penalty
- Palestine responded immediately to level the score, but with just 5 minutes of extra time remaining Mohammed Kanno sealed the victory for Saudi Arabia
DOHA: Saudi Arabia halted Palestine’s impressive Arab Cup run at the quarter-final stage with a hard-fought, 2-1, extra-time victory in a tense match on Thursday.
Herve Renard’s side dominated for long spells during the first half in Al-Rayyan, Qatar, as they probed patiently against a disciplined Palestinian defense that had kept two clean sheets in their three matches during the group stage.
The closest the Green Falcons came before the break was late in the opening period when a deep cross created space for Feras Al-Buraikan, only for Hamed Hamdan to make a crucial, last-ditch clearance.
Saudi Arabia eventually broke through early in the second half through their talisman, Salem Al-Dawsari, whose sharp first touch drew a foul from Mohammed Saleh inside the area. Al-Buraikan converted the resultant penalty with confidence to give the Saudis a deserved lead.
Palestine responded immediately, however; Oday Dabbagh controlled a cross from Hassan Altambakti with a superb first touch before finishing clinically to level the match and reignite hopes of a historic semi-final berth.
Saudi Arabia thought they had a chance to retake the lead late on when they were awarded another penalty, but the video assistant referee overturned the decision. And so, with the teams locked at 1-1, the match moved into extra time.
With five minutes remaining, and a penalty shoot-out looming, Mohammed Kanno delivered the decisive blow as he rose to head home a pinpoint cross from Al-Dawsari, sending the Green Falcons into the last four and bringing an admirable Palestinian campaign to an end.
