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Ewen Ferguson admitted he had “a little bit of luck” after he eagled the 18th hole to lead the Hero Dubai Desert Classic by a stroke at the midway stage.<\/b><\/p>\n
The Scot’s second shot ended up five feet from the hole after he clattered his ball into the grandstand and it bounced back onto the green.<\/p>\n
Ferguson knocked in the putt for a bogey-free seven-under 65 to move to 12 under, one clear of New Zealand’s Daniel Hillier, who also eagled the last in his 65.<\/p>\n
“I knew that the last couple of holes, you could take advantage of them,” he told BBC Sport. <\/p>\n
“On 18, obviously a little bit of luck there. I felt I would’ve made birdie anyway but eagle’s just even better.”<\/p>\n
Tyrrell Hatton had eight birdies as he also carded a 65 to match the lowest round of the day. He is alongside fellow Englishman Laurie Canter (68), South Africa’s Shaun Norris (67) and Australia’s Jason Scrivener (69) on eight under.<\/p>\n
England’s Tommy Fleetwood (68) and Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin (69) are in a group at five under, while Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre is one further back after he had six birdies and three bogeys in a 69.<\/p>\n
Rory McIlroy (71) is in a group of 11 players on three under, along with Scottish pair Richie Ramsay (71) and Calum Hill (74).<\/p>\n
Spain’s Jon Rahm was among those to miss the cut. The two-time major champion had two double bogeys in a five-over 77 that saw him finish on two over par, two shots above the cut line.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n