RABAT, Morocco – LIV Golf reserve player John Catlin is one round away from his third Asian Tour victory of the season, and second International Series title, after maintaining his lead following Round 3 of the International Series Morocco today (US$2million).
The American, who currently leads the Asian Tour Order of Merit and sits second on The International Series Rankings, posted a 5-under 68 on Saturday to take a one-shot lead over New Zealand’s Ben Campbell.
Campbell, last year’s Hong Kong Open champion, also fired a 68 – remarkably going 105 holes, which is five rounds and six holes, without a bogey on the Asian Tour.
Spaniard Eugenio Chacarra of Fireballs GC was another to card a 68 and is one shot further behind at the challenging Red Course at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in the capital Rabat. Fellow LIV Golf members Pat Perez of 4Aces GC and Caleb Surratt of Legion XIII are in a group tied for fifth, four shots off Catlin’s lead.
Catlin has led the tournament for each of the first three days. He bogeyed the first but made six birdies, narrowly missing an 8-foot eagle putt on the driveable par-4 17th.
“I would say I’m in pretty good control,” Catlin, 33, said. “You know I would have liked to start the round off a bit better, but after that I feel like I played some very, very solid golf and built some good momentum going into tomorrow.”
He won the International Series Macau presented by Wynn and the Saudi Open presented by PIF back-to-back earlier this year, and recently made a fine debut on the LIV Golf League, finishing joint 24th in Houston, and tied seventh in Nashville. Asked if winning The International Series Rankings – he is currently in second place behind Mexican Carlos Ortiz – to earn a place on LIV Golf next season is a target, he promptly replied: “Oh 100%!”
“You know, it’s definitely a goal of mine, but you got 18 holes to go tomorrow” Catlin said. “So, I’m just going to take it one shot at a time, give it everything I have got, and we’ll see what happens.”
Campbell last dropped a shot on the 12th hole in the second round of International Series Macau presented by Wynn in March, and he drained a number of long par putts today to maintain a clean sheet.
“I got off to a good start out there,” Campbell, 32, said. “The swing was feeling great. I sort of battled a little bit through the middle part of the round and had a few chances coming in but good to be there in contention. Got a few things to tidy up ahead of tomorrow but it’s good when you’re near the lead.”
Chacarra will be in the final pairing tomorrow with Catlin and Campbell thanks to birdies on Nos. 17 and 18, meaning three champions on The International Series going out in the final group.
“My goal is to win,” said Chacarra, the winner of last year’s St Andrews Bay Championship. “Obviously, everyone here wants to win. There’s a lot of good players so it’s going to be tough, but I’m happy with it.
“I’ve not been healthy for the last year, so to be able to compete again and feel my body good is something that feels really nice. So, I’m excited to play again. I’m happy again. Just going to try to enjoy tomorrow. Hopefully I drop some putts and I have a chance to win again.”
Australian Travis Smyth fired a 70, helped by an eagle on 17, and is in sole possession of fourth, three back from Catlin.
Other LIV Golf members competing Sunday will be Stingers GC’s Branden Grace (T13), Iron Heads GC’s Jinichiro Kozuma (T13) Iron Heads GC’s Scott Vincent (T17), Legion XIII’s Kieran Vincent (T25) and RangeGoats GC’s Peter Uihlein (T49).
(Photo courtesy of Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour)