Asian Tour: Harold Varner III ‘just hanging in there’ as he takes 1 shot lead into final round of Saudi International
- Closing birdie keeps American just out ahead of the pack, with Adri Arnaus a stroke behind
- Tommy Fleetwood, Cameron Smith and Dustin Johnson all in hunt at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club
Harold Varner III said he has been “just hanging in there” after a closing birdie gave him a narrow one-shot lead heading into Sunday’s final round of the PIF Saudi International.
The American carded a 2-under par 68 to move to 12-under overall, keeping him just ahead of Spain’s Adri Arnaus.
England’s Tommy Fleetwood is a shot further back at 10-under and will make up the final grouping at the Royal Greens Golf & Country Club. Cameron Smith and Wade Ormsby lead a chasing pack that also includes defending champion Dustin Johnson.
“I’m just hanging in there,” Varner III said. “I did a good job of just slowing down and just doing my job. I love competing. I mean, the greatest thing in life is competing and just working at it.”
Arnaus meanwhile is chasing hard, and followed up rounds of 64 and 66, with a 1-under 69 on Saturday, which included five birdies and four bogeys.
A resident of Dubai for the past three years, the 27-year-old won the Challenge Tour Grand Finals in Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE in 2018, and is still seeking a win on one of the main Tours.
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With blustery conditions again expected in King Abdullah Economic City, the Spaniard said knowing when to be aggressive and knowing when to hold back was going to be the difference.
“I think it’s going to be very important for me to come out tomorrow rested and fresh because it takes a lot out of us being out there,” he said. “So, yeah, just come out there especially calm, sticking to my game plan, but at the same time being aggressive on the back nine, because there’s a few opportunities that you can take advantage of. And on the holes that are a little bit tougher, just trying to play smart.”
In Panama, Carl Yuan is just two-shots off the lead going into the final round despite carding a 1-over 71 at the Panama Championship.
High winds made for tough conditions at the Korn Ferry Tour event, with players struggling on greens that got firmer as the day went on.
Andrew Kozan’s 3-under 67 was the equal low round of the day, and jumped him from a tie for 15th to a share of the lead at 7-under alongside Zack Fischer, Jimmy Stanger and Ben Taylor.
