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Haotong Li claims pole going into Qatar Masters finale

Staff WritersAAP
China's Haotong Li has taken the lead going into the final round of the Qatar Masters in Doha. (Scott Barbour/AAP PHOTOS)
Camera IconChina's Haotong Li has taken the lead going into the final round of the Qatar Masters in Doha. (Scott Barbour/AAP PHOTOS) Credit: AAP

China's Haotong Li has moved into pole position at the Qatar Masters after taking over from England's Brandon Robinson-Thompson as leader going into the final round.

Li, a three-time European tour winner, fired a third-round 67 to reach 13 under at Doha Golf Club on Saturday.

A one-under 71 enabled Robinson-Thompson to move to 11 under, enough for second spot and a place in the final group on Sunday.

His compatriot Matthew Jordan and South African Jayden Schaper share third on nine under after rounds of 67 and 69 respectively.

Li wasted no time wiping out Robinson-Thompson's two-shot overnight advantage as he birdied the first and second.

The Englishman had only one deviation from par over his first 15 holes and that was a bogey at the sixth, with Li taking the outright lead with a birdie at the seventh.

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Both players cashed in on the driveable 16th, where Robinson-Thompson recorded his first gain of the day.

Li rolled in a 15 footer at the 17th but Robinson-Thompson got up and down from the back of the 18th green to close the gap to two.

"It felt not easy, definitely," said Li, the Presidents Cup player who is seeking his first title since 2022.

"I didn't hit as many fairways as yesterday, I just need to create more chances tomorrow.

"It's been a while. Hopefully I can continue the momentum going into the final round."

Robinson-Thompson was tied for eighth in Bahrain last week and was pleased to keep his challenge on course over the closing holes.

"It was a bit of a slow start, honestly," he said. "Again the wind was up, pins were tucked a little bit and I kept hitting them to 30 or 40 feet.

"I kept giving myself chances but not close enough.'

Earlier Jordan had moved through the field with five straight birdies from the 12th and, although he dropped a shot after three-putting the 17th, he holed a huge 56-birdie putt on the last.

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