September 25: Overnight joint leaders – England’s Sam Rook and Sean Ramos of the Philippines – could not be separated after their third-round battle in the Egypt Golf Series 13.

On Friday at the spectacular Robert Trent Jones-designed Madinaty Golf Club, both players added rounds of four-under par 66 to reach 13-under 197 total with 18 holes left to play.

Rook reached the total with birdies on his last two holes, while Ramos picked up shots on the tough par-4 16th and 18th.

The closing birdies gave the duo a two-shot breathing space at the top of the leaderboard over Korea’s Minhyeok Yang, who shot the day’s best round of 64, and American Nathan Han (67).

Italian Michele Ortolani (65), who is second in the Asian Development Tour Order of Merit behind Malaysia’s Khavish Varadan, made a determined move with a bogey-free round of 65, which elevated him to within three shots of the leaders at 10-under. American Brent Ito (67) and Denmark’s August Thor Host (67) were giving Ortolani company at that score in tied fifth place.

Sean Ramos of the Philippines. Picture courtesy Egyptian Golf Federation

Both Rook, who is currently 80th in the Order of Merit, and Ramos, who is 12th with two runner-up finishes this year, are searching for their first professional victories.

Rook started with a bogey on the first, but like Friday when he opened with a double bogey, he knuckled down after that. A bogey on the 14th hole was his only other dropped shot of the day.

“I am feeling good, to be fair. I was a little bit nervous this morning, but I’ve not been in that position before, so I guess it’s expected,” said the 25-year-old from Sheffield.

“I am driving it pretty nice and I’m hitting my irons well. Chipping it good and putting well. So, pretty good overall.

“If I win my first ADT title tomorrow, it would mean the world. I’m trying not to think about that. Kind of just keep playing, and if that’s the end result, then great. And sure, we will have a great night out in Cairo on Saturday night.”

In-form Ortolani needs $15,165 to take over as the Order of Merit, which means he will have to win on Saturday to have that chance.

Michele Ortolani of Italy. Picture by Joki Escandor/Asian Development Tour

“My round was pretty steady. I’d say very consistent. Yesterday afternoon, I had a huge grind with Eduardo (his caddie) to try and fix up the swing, because I was struggling. And today, I’m glad that the work paid off,” said the winner of the DigiPlus Philippines ADT Open.

“I think I made all key putts probably to save par today, especially on hole 12 where I could have easily made a three-putt, and again on the 13th. Other than that, I was hitting every green and two-putting.

“I think some players underestimated this course because it looks wide, but you need to strike the ball pretty well, especially on the par threes, and there are so many of them.

“Regardless of chasing down Khavish, I will just try and play my best iron game as I can and try to hole putts tomorrow and see if I can win. Otherwise, stacking points is very important to try and stay as up as possible.”

Egypt Golf Series 13, co-sanctioned by the Egyptian Golf Federation, is the first of back-to-back Asian Development Tour events at Madinaty Golf Club. The tournament is also partnered by the Arab Golf Federation and Golf Saudi.

September 24: Sean Ramos of the Philippines (main image) and England’s Sam Rook moved to the top of the leaderboard at the halfway stage of Egypt Golf Series 13.

In Thursday’s second round at the spectacular Robert Trent Jones-designed Madinaty Golf Club, Ramos added a six-under par 64 to his opening 67, while Rook overcame a double-bogey start for 65, as the duo totalled nine-under par 131.

That gave them a one-shot advantage going into the final 36 holes over American Nathan Han, who shot the day’s best round of 63, and Korea’s Jaeil Kim (68).

Four players were tied for fifth place at 133 – Thailand’s Kosuke Hamamoto (64) and Weerawish Narkprachar (64), alongside Denmark’s August Thor Host (68) and Brent Ito (66) of the US.

Overnight leader Ben Jones of England slumped to a 72 with just one birdie, but was in a group of seven players at 134.

Sam Rook of England. Picture by Jason Butler/Asian Tour.

Ramos, who is 12th on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) Order of Merit and seeking to make a decisive push for his Asian Tour card, started from the tenth tee and was one-under through 13 holes. On the third hole, his 12th, it was a shank that woke him up as he made the bulk of his scoring with four birdies over his last five holes.

“I started off pretty cold today, I’d say. I was hitting it good, but I couldn’t make any putts. So, I was just trying to be patient. Surprisingly, I started to play better after I shanked my second shot on the third into the fairway bunker. Fortunately, I saved far, and then made a bunch of birdies,” said Ramos, who has had three top-fives this season on the ADT, including runner-up finishes in the Ever Glory ADT Open and the ADT Players Championship presented by the R&A.

Rook has had a very average season on the ADT so far and Thursday’s round laid the platform for an exciting end-of-the-year charge for the 25-year-old from Sheffield. Apart from the double-bogey start, he did not put a foot wrong.

“It was a weird one, started with a double. I hit in the water left off the tee when I thought I could carry the water. So, just had to take my medicine. I did not miss a green from then on in,” said Rook, whose best finish on the ADT is a tied fifth at the Egyptian Open on the same Madinaty course last year.

“I’ve hit it really nice off the tee, and my iron play has been good. I made four twos today, which is on them par 3s, and they are all pretty tough. I actually changed putters last night, and that kind of worked today. So can’t complain.”

Egypt Golf Series 13, co-sanctioned by the Egyptian Golf Federation, is the first of back-to-back Asian Development Tour events at Madinaty Golf Club. The tournament is also partnered by the Arab Golf Federation and Golf Saudi.