Atwal, Shiv share lead; Bhullar tied 5th in Dubai Open

Indian golfers Shiv Kapur and Arjun Atwal shared the lead with two others while Gaganjeet Bhullar finished tied fifth after the third round of the inaugural Dubai Open at the par-72 Els Club Dubai course here Saturday.

Atwal fired four-under 68 for a three-day total of 10-under 206 while Shiv overcame two early bogeys to card three-under 69 to share the lead with South Africa's Jbe Kruger and South Korean teenager Wang Jeung-hun.

Kruger sizzled with an eight-under 64, the week's lowest, following a card that included the inaugural Dubai Open's first hole-in-one on the par-three second hole and an eagle on the eighth while the 19-year-old Wang, who has not missed a single cut this season, shot a 68 to put himself in contention for a maiden Asian Tour victory.

Six players lie a stroke back, including Darren Clarke (64), Thailand's Chapchai Nirat (67) and Pariya Junhasavasdikul (67), Japan's Daisuke Kataoka (68), India's Bhullar (69) and Scotsman Simon Yates (69).

Two-time Asian Tour number one Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand, who has won twice this year, fired a 65 to lie on 208 in what promises to be a fantastic finish to the 2014 Asian Tour season.

Atwal, Asia's number one in 2003, has not contended since becoming the first Indian to win on the Professional Golfers' Association Tour in 2010 and reckons the hottest putter Sunday will walk away with the crown.

"It's been a while," said the seven-time Asian Tour winner.

"Just make a lot of putts. Make a lot of birdies. It's going to be fun tomorrow I think."

Major winner Darren Clarke, who won the British Open in 2011, charged up the leaderboard with six birdies and chip-in eagle on the par four 16th hole for Saturday's 64.

Going into the final round, no fewer than 21 players, all within three shots of the lead, will have a chance of lifting the top prize of the $500,000 tournament.

Jeev Milkha Singh took joint 40th position with a two-under 70 that took his total to two-under 214.

Leaderboard:

206: Jbe Kruger (RSA) 70-72-64, Wang Jeung-hun (KOR) 71-67-68, Arjun Atwal (IND) 73-65-68, Shiv Kapur (IND) 71-66-69.

207: Darren Clarke (NIR) 72-71-64, Chapchai Nirat (THA) 71-69-67, Pariya Junhasavasdikul (THA) 68-72-67, Daisuke Kataoka (JPN) 73-66-68, Simon Yates (SCO) 71-67-69, Gaganjeet Bhullar (IND) 69-69-69.

208: Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 74-69-65, Thitiphun Chuayprakong (THA) 70-71-67.

209: Javi Colomo (ESP) 69-73-67, Matthew Fitzpatrick (ENG) 70-71-68, Nicholas Fung (MAS) 71-70-68, Panuphol Pittayarat (THA) 69-72-68, Mo Joong-kyung (KOR) 70-71-68, Joonas Granberg (FIN) 72-69-68, Bryce Easton (RSA) 69-71-69, Joshua White (ENG) 71-68-70, Prom Meesawat (THA) 71-68-70.

211: Thammanoon Sriroj (THA) 72-72-67, Poosit Supupramai (THA) 72-72-67, Carlos Pigem (ESP) 70-73-68, Namchok Tantipokhakul (THA) 71-72-68, Marcus Both (AUS) 70-71-70, Lam Chih Bing (SIN) 67-7470.