Scotland's Ewen Ferguson rode his luck on the final hole as an eagle gave him a one-shot lead at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.
It looked for most of the day that Daniel Hillier's 11-under-par halfway total would be enough to lead going into the weekend at Emirates Golf Club.
However, Ferguson chipped in on the eighth as he turned in 32 then birdied the long tenth from close range.
Six straight pars looked to have derailed his chances of leading outright, but he holed a 30-footer at the 17th to get within one then saw his second to the par-five last clatter off the stand behind the green and bounce back to five feet, with the subsequent eagle giving him a 65 and 12-under halfway total.
New Zealand's Hillier had also eagled the 18th, albeit in more orthodox fashion from 15 feet, in a flawless round of 65.
The pair are well clear of the chasing pack, with South African Shaun Norris, Australia's Jason Scrivener and English pair Laurie Canter and Tyrrell Hatton tied for third on eight under.
Meanwhile, organisers have said the tournament is now fully sold out across all ticket types after record breaking registration numbers this year.
However, weekend ticket transfers can be made to family and friends, on the Hero Dubai Desert Classic mobile app, to avoid unused tickets going to waste.
Eagle putt holed 💪
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) January 17, 2025
Ewen Ferguson will take a one shot lead into the weekend. #HeroDubaiDesertClassic | #RolexSeries https://t.co/BtxkA8NQZ9 pic.twitter.com/BPn9Qo1wMZ
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