Three share Abu Dhabi Challenge lead as Road to Mallorca race heats up

Belgium's Matthis Besard, Finland's Tapio Pulkkanen and Ireland's Liam Nolan will share the halfway lead at the Abu Dhabi Challenge after moving to nine under par at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club.

Besard, who began the day two shots off the lead, produced a bogey-free three-under-par 67.

Pulkkanen surged 22 places up the leaderboard with a six-under 64 and Nolan climbed 12 spots after a five-under 65.

The trio sit one clear of France's Maxence Giboudot and Sweden's Adam Blomme, who both reached eight under after rounds of 65 and 66 respectively.

There is plenty at stake this weekend in Al Ain.

This is the final event before the HotelPlanner Tour's back-to-back tournaments in China, and only the top 68 on the Road to Mallorca Rankings will make it there.

The top 45 then advance to the season-ending Grand Final in Mallorca, where the race for DP World Tour promotion is decided.