Chris Wood fired eight birdies in a six-under-par 66 to take a one-shot lead into the final round of the Egypt Golf Series Marassi 1 at Address Marassi Golf Resort. The former Ryder Cup star, who won the Rolear Algarve Classic in December, moved to 12 under par overall, one clear of Ireland’s Alex Maguire as he bids to reclaim top spot in the MENA Golf Tour Rankings.
Wood carded a bogey-free front nine of 32 that included birdies at the par-three third, par-five fourth, par-five seventh and par-four ninth. He continued his charge on the back nine with further gains at the 11th, 14th, 15th and 17th before finding water at the par-five last for his only dropped shot of the day.
“There was a little bit of wind and it moved around quite a bit, actually different to what the forecast said, so we probably had three different winds today,” said Wood. “Eight birdies is really nice. I had a slight drop in concentration on 10 with a three-putt from about 20 or 25 feet down the hill, and then I hit one in the water down the last, but I’m not worried about it really. I was just trying to be a bit braver off that tee today rather than bailing out like I did yesterday, and it was a fully committed shot, so I can’t complain about that.
“Taking a one-shot lead into the final round, the game plan is just to try and do the same again. I’m not one for looking too much at where I am, just stick to what I’m doing. It’s a similar situation to when I won in Portugal and got pushed all the way there, so I expect it’ll be the same tomorrow.”
Maguire, who fired the round of the tournament with an opening 63, sits alone in second at 11 under after a level-par 72 that included a double bogey at the first.
“Coming off a really good round, it’s always tough to back it up, especially when you hit it in the bushes off the first tee,” said Maguire. “I made a bad double on the opening hole and it was so cold this morning that the ball was flying a club and a half shorter, and I didn’t adjust well for the first few holes. I even put one in the water on a par five because I went a club less.
“From about the fifth hole onwards I played really good golf and made five birdies, and I probably could have had a few more. I hit a few inside 15 feet and felt very good with the putter. I ended up okay, but it could have been better. I robbed a few yesterday, so I guess it all evens out.”
England’s Charlie Crockett, who finished runner-up at New Giza last week, sits alone in third at ten under after a 66 that featured two eagles.
“I started on the 10th and got off to a solid start, hitting all nine greens on my front nine, but I was leaving myself 15- to 20-footers and just couldn’t get anything to drop,” said Crockett. “I kept telling myself to stay patient because I knew it was playing easier with less wind. I finally made one from about 18 feet on the first hole, and that really got the ball rolling. After that I holed a couple of long ones, including two for eagle, which is always a bonus. I’m feeling great going into tomorrow. I’m looking forward to having the wind back because I like playing in it.”
Italy’s Matteo Cristoni is alone in fourth at nine under, while Germany’s Benedikt Thalmayr and France’s Mathieu Decottignies-Lafon share fifth at eight under.
Scotland’s Aidan O’Hagan, fourth in the MENA Golf Tour Rankings, is well placed at seven under in seventh position.
New Giza champion Lauri Ruuska of Finland bounced back from an opening 74 with a five-under 65 to move to five under overall in a share of tenth.
Rankings leader Ludovico Addabbo sits in a tie for 16th at four under after rounds of 70-70.
The final round begins tomorrow (Monday 26 January).
