Rookies battle Clark for Durban title
“I think it’s going to be a battle, but I’m excited, as long as it doesn’t get out of control and blow too hard, it’s going to be a fun day to try and hit some shots.
“It’s going to be my last round of the year and I’d like to go out on a high note.”
Senden, who had led after the opening round, had to withstand a shaky start today as he bogeyed his opening two holes to fall behind a cluster of seven players who briefly held the lead.
But the 2006 Stonehaven Cup winner made his charge on the back nine, producing an eagle on the par-five 11th and adding consecutive birdies from the 13th to card a two-under 70 and sit at seven under overall.
“It was a day of just trying to do my best to stay up there and it’s nice to be leading the golf tournament,” Senden said.
“I thought the last two holes were pretty much close to the edge, it was so windy out there it was hard to hit the ball straight.”
Matt Jones (69), Peter Senior (69) and Kieran Pratt (70) are level in third place a shot behind Rose.
Champion in 2001, Stuart Appleby and his American playing partner Kyle Stanley both posted two-under 70s to be three under for the tournament alongside Cameron Percy (72).
Pre-tournament favourite Adam Scott is a shot further back among a group of nine players in a share of ninth after posting his second straight 71.
Women’s Omega Dubai Masters:Ladies European Tour: Spain’s Carlota Ciganda became the first player since Laura Davies in 1985 to win both the Ladies European Tour money list and the Rookie of the Year title in the same season.
The 22-year-old from Pamplona secured top spot with a 10th place finish in Dubai.
China’s world number six Shanshan Feng won the event by a runaway five-stroke margin from Dutch player Dewi Claire Schreefel, herself four clear of third-placed pair Becky Brewerton and Caroline Masson.
Feng, who at the LPGA Championship in June became the first Chinese golfer male or female to win a Major, shot a closing 69 for a tournament record 21-under-par total of 267.
With Ciganda climbing through the field with a 68 Masson had to finish joint second to deny her the Order of Merit crown, but a triple bogey on the 12th and bogey at the 17th left her too much to do.
Welsh Solheim Cup player Brewerton finished with a 65 to tie with Masson on 12 under.
