Nolan shares halfway lead in scorching Abu Dhabi
Tapio Pulkkanen. Picture: Getty Images
Liam Nolan battled back from a mid-round wobble and rattled off five birdies in his last eight holes to keep his hopes of a maiden HotelPlanner Tour win alive at the Abu Dhabi Challenge.
A win at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club could catapult the Galway man into the top 15 in the Road to Mallorca rankings who will be awarded DP World Tour cards at the end of the season.
There's still a long way to go in blistering heat, but Nolan (26) is feeling good after overcoming a bogey at the ninth and a double-bogey seven at the 10th to shoot a five-under 65 and grab a share of the halfway lead with Belgium's Matthis Besard and Finn Tapio Pulkkanen on nine under.
"I'm playing really nicely," said the Bearna native, who lies 43rd in the Road to Mallorca rankings and has his eye on making the top 45 to contest the season-ending Grand Final after the next two events in China.
"I've been very patient, which has helped me bounce back after some wobbly holes here and there. So I'm really looking forward to the weekend."
Nolan birdied the fourth, sixth and seventh to move into contention, and while he handed those shots back at the ninth and 10th, he had the energy to fight back.
He's taken steps to conserve energy in 45C heat, shortening his warm-up routine and forcing himself to eat and drink during his round.
He knows the next month is crucial to his DP World Tour ambitions and that this weekend could be key.
"Obviously it's that time of year where every shot matters just a little bit more," he said. "But I'm just going to focus on being really patient, as I've done all year.
"It'll be a good test of where my game is at under pressure before I head to China. So, really looking forward to it."
Gary Hurley, 55th in the rankings, shares 37th on three under after a 66, while 73rd-ranked Mark Power remained on course to qualify for the events in China after carding a battling 69 to make the two-under cut on the mark.
On the DP World Tour, two-time winner Pádraig Harrington (55) produced a three-under back nine to open with a one-under 71 at Carnoustie in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
He was tied for 78th, six shots behind Scotland's Michael Stewart and Australian Jack Buchanan.
Stewart, a Tartan Pro Tour regular, shot a 65 at Carnoustie and Buchanan a 65 at Kingsbarns Golf Links to leave them a shot clear of South Africans Casey Jarvis and MJ Daffue, who shot 66s at Carnoustie and Kingsbarns, respectively/
World number four Matt Fitzpatrick, who is seeking his fifth win this year and back-to-back successes after Sunday's Open de France triumph, was lurking in a tie for 12th after opening with a 68 at Carnoustie.
