It was moving day in the desert, and Dan Erickson was definitely in the fast lane.
The 26-year-old American torched Al Zorah Golf & Yacht Club with a blistering nine-under-par 63 on Saturday to tie the course record and grab a one-shot lead heading into the final round of the UAE Challenge in Ajman. Not bad for someone who reckons he had a dodgy warm-up.
“I didn’t really have a good warm-up, but as soon as I got out there, I kind of found something,” Erickson said, clearly still buzzing from his round. “I hit my approaches really well, which I’ve been struggling with lately—especially some of the wedges. They were really solid strokes and well controlled.”
UAE CHALLENGE LEADERBOARD
It showed. Erickson carved up the front nine with five birdies—including a hat-trick from the fourth—before reeling off another four on the way in to reach 16-under for the tournament. That round follows a T6 finish at the Porsche Singapore Classic on the DP World Tour, and it seems the Texan is hitting his stride.
“I’ll be in the final group tomorrow,” he added. “That experience—just staying in the present, sticking to my process—should help.”
Chasing him down are two players who know how to handle the heat. Italy’s Renato Paratore, the man with a swing smoother than your favourite gelato, fired a classy 64 to move into a share of second at 15-under. He’s joined by South Africa’s JC Ritchie, who quietly posted a 67 to keep himself firmly in the frame.
Ireland’s Mark Power (-13) isn’t out of it either, while Italy’s Filippo Celli and France’s Oihan Guillamoundeguy are lurking at -12. Dubai resident Adri Arnaus also kept himself in the conversation at -11, while Emirates Golf Federation rep Joshua Grenville-Wood sits three further back.
Driver Drama For Skaik
But let’s talk about Ahmad Skaik. The UAE’s leading hope had the golf gods throw a spanner in the works—or rather, break one. His driver broke mid-round, forcing him to switch to a 3-wood off the tee for the final stretch. Despite the gear grief, Skaik kept his cool and dropped just a single shot.
“I tried it again and it came out dead… on hole seven, felt like I pured it—but it came out like a low hook,” he said. “That’s when we saw the driver was broken.”
Still, Skaik’s attitude was class: “This is golf—it is what it is. It’s not the first time things like this have happened… I just take it on the chin and try to keep moving forward.”
You love to see it.
The stage is now set for a cracking Sunday showdown. Final round tee times start at 7:40am local, with the big dogs—Erickson, Paratore, and Ritchie—off last at 9:40am. With one round to play, it’s game on in Ajman.
