The winner of the third of the MENA Tour’s 10 events earns an invite to the Andalucia – Costa del Sol Match Play (May 17-20) and Marsh has pole position after firing a five-under par 67 in Tuesday’s second round to move to 11-under 133.

Playing just his second MENA Tour event after losing his Challenge Tour card last season, Marsh won’t have it easy punching his ticket to the match play event in Spain however, not with compatriot Max Smith (69) and last week’s Al Zorah Open champion Daniel Gaunt (68) lurking just two back.

“I really don’t remember when was the last time I was leading going into the final round. Must be during my amateur days. But I know I just have to play good golf and take it one shot at a time,” said Marsh who won the 2014 English Amateur a and counts the 2017 Dawson and Sanderson Classic on the EuroPro Tour as his pro highlight thus far.

“I am just going to have the same game plan, same routine, same warm-up tomorrow, and let’s see where that takes us.”

BITE-SIZE INTERVIEW
(With Nick Marsh after Rd 2)@NickMarshgolf tells us how he shot a 67 and took a two-shot lead going into the final day.

And gets video-bombed by Antoine Schwartz in the process!#HarderBetterFasterStronger#JourneyToJordan pic.twitter.com/vpnKLHhkOx

— MENA Tour (@theMENATour) February 26, 2019

Surrey-based Australian Gaunt, playing just his third competitive event since quitting golf for almost one-and-a-half years, shapes as a real threat to Marsh.

“I am playing well. Almost bogey-free again today except for a three-putt on the 8th, and if I can keep doing the same thing, we might be in with a shot tomorrow,” said Gaunt of his 68 on Tuesday. “My attitude to golf has changed. I am not thinking about technique or things like that when I am playing. I am at a stage where I don’t think about the result. I am just trying to have fun.”

BITE-SIZE INTERVIEW
(With Daniel Gaunt after Rd 2)

Now 20-under par for his last 92 holes on the MENA Tour, @Gauntgolf reveals how he is reaping the rewards for changing his attitude towards golf.#HarderBetterFasterStronger#JourneyToJordan pic.twitter.com/9SReXSWz13

— MENA Tour (@theMENATour) February 26, 2019

BITE-SIZE INTERVIEW
(With Max Smith after Rd 2)@MaxSmith91 has shown great consistency over the first two days at @ghalagolfclub. He speaks on what he has done right and how he’d approach the final round.#HarderBetterFasterStronger#JourneyToJordan pic.twitter.com/WP2Q12ek7g

— MENA Tour (@theMENATour) February 26, 2019

After a Tuesday best 65, Scotland’s Craig Ross is four back of Marsh alongside another Scot, Jack McDonald (70), Frenchman Robin Roussel (68), Canadian Oliver Tubb (69) and England’s Todd Clements (70).

There will be just as much interest in the final round amateur battle within the battle at Ghala after Dubai-based 14-year-old Josh Hill shot a brilliant five-under par 67 on Tuesday to open up a one-stroke lead over England’s Curtis Knipes (70), the current amateur OOM leader. Saudi Arabia’s Saud Al Sharif and England’s Jack Floydd were in third place after identical rounds of 73 and 68 over the first days.

BITE-SIZE INTERVIEW
(With Josh Hill after Rd 2)

Everybody loves Josh!

And that includes the bee that just wanted to plant a cheeky kiss as he discusses where today’s 67 stands in his short MENA Tour career.#HarderBetterFasterStronger#JourneyToJordan pic.twitter.com/4JwxsjbXqI

— MENA Tour (@theMENATour) February 26, 2019

The cut fell at two-over 146 with 54 professionals and nine amateurs making it to the final round of the 54-holer.

Ghala Golf Club Open – LEADING SCORES (After round 2, par-72)
133 – Nick Marsh (ENG) 66-67
135 – Daniel Gaunt (AUS) 67-68, Max Smith (ENG) 66-69
137 – Craig Ross (SCO) 72-65, Robin Roussel (FRA) 69-68, Oliver Tubb (CAN) 68-69, Todd Clements (ENG) 67-70, Jack McDonald (SCO) 67-70
138 – Josh Hill (ENG-Am) 71-67, Oliver Jacobsson (SWE) 70-68, Leonhard Asti (AUT) 69-69, Richard Bland (ENG) 66-72
139 – Pierre Junior Verlaar (NED) 71-68, Curtis Knipes (ENG-Am) 69-70
140 – MG Keyser (RSA) 72-68, Robert Dinwiddie (ENG) 71-69, Antoine Schwartz (FRA) 68-72
141 – Saud Al Sharif (KSA-Am) 73-68, Jack Floydd (ENG-Am) 73-68, Jamie Rutherford (ENG) 71-70
142 – Maarten Bosch (NED) 73-69, Taylor Carter (ENG) 71-71, Gabriel Axell (SWE) 70-72, Jake Ayres (ENG) 71-71143 – Lindsay Renolds (CAN) 75-68, Oscar Henningsson (SWE) 74-69, Andrew Burmester (RSA) 73-70, Jose Rolz (GUA) 72-71, Sam Hobday (ENG) 72-71, Jesper Alm (SWE) 70-73, Victor Riu (FRA) 70-73, Gary Stal (FRA) 70-73, Haiko Dana (GER) 69-74, Henric Sturehed (SWE) 68-75, Daniel Owen (ENG) 68-75

The post Marsh chases quick Challenge Tour return while all amateur eyes on Dubai teen Hill as Ghala Open goes to the wire appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.