Dominant Catlin shoots course record to open up eight-shot lead at the 2024 Saudi Open presented by PIF

* Overnight leader John Catlin is in pole position to win his second successive Asian Tour title at the 2024 Saudi Open presented by PIF

* The American shot a course-record 62 to give him an eight-shot lead over Kiradech Aphinbarnrat in second

* Four players sit one further behind but face an uphill task to overhaul Catlin

Ain Alalam – Rashad Iskandrni

John Catlin’s dominance at the 2024 Saudi Open presented by PIF continued as he shot a men’s course-record 62 to open up an eight-shot lead at the top of the leaderboard on moving day at Riyadh Golf Club.

American Catlin began the third round one shot ahead of Scott Hend and Haotong Li and signalled his intentions early with two birdies in his first five holes. But it was a special back nine that saw him pull away as six birdies, including two in his final two holes, the PIF Moment of the Day, put him in the driving seat for a sixth Asian Tour victory.

It was Thai favourite Kiradech Aphinbarnrat who made the biggest move of the chasing pack and will head out with Catlin in the final group on Saturday. His round of 67 moved him into second place with Wade Ormsby, David Puig, Hend and Li one further back, though all know it will need something special to overhaul Catlin.

The American is looking for back-to-back wins on the Asian Tour after lifting the International Series Macau in March, but the 33-year-old is taking nothing for granted ahead of the final round on Saturday.

Catlin said: “My game has felt in good shape. Today was just one of those days where the putter just gets hot and it’s like you can’t miss. I kept going and tried to make as many birdies as I could because there are so many good players out here and there are plenty of birdies to be made tomorrow. I knew I had to keep the peddle to the metal.

“Nothing changes tomorrow. The job is not finished. David [Puig] has shown he can shoot some really low numbers and there are a lot of other guys very capable of doing that here.”

It is Catlin’s second trip to Saudi Arabia but his first to Riyadh and after his record-breaking day, he admitted he will be back in the Kingdom whenever he gets the chance.

He said: “I’ve loved it here. The people have been so friendly to me, the facilities are really good and I love the course. I will be back whenever there is a tournament here!”

South African Jaco Ahlers produced the day’s second-best round with his 65 moving him to seven-under-par, while LIV Golf star Peter Uihlein catapulted himself up the leaderboard after four birdies in four holes to start his back nine took him to the same score. Uihlein is looking forward to an attacking final round.

Uihlein said: “You’ve got to shoot 10 under tomorrow to win – I’m going to try! Hopefully my caddy will let me hit driver on some holes where I probably shouldn’t and just have a go.”

On his round, the American added: “I played nicely on the front, but it was different wind. I felt like the back nine with the way the wind was is easier than the first couple of days, so I thought I could make some birdies. I didn’t birdie the 15th or 18th hole, which is disappointing.”

Thai golfers Panuphol Pittayarat and Itthipat Buranatanyarat shot 66 and 69 respectively to sit at nine-under-par, while Moroccans Othman Raouzi and Ayoub Lgiurati, the two invited Arab golfers to make the cut, endured difficult days and both sit over par heading into the final round.

For more social content, follow @thesaudiopen on Instagram and TikTok, while the fan zone at Riyadh Golf Club will be open from 9am – 11pm on Saturday with tickets available to buy here, starting from 50 SAR.