Fox leads Ras Al Khaimah with Bekker, Harding, Lombard in contention

Ryan Fox chased further ahead in the Ras Al Khaimah Classic as the New Zealander's extended his lead to three shots at Al Hamra Golf Club on Friday.

Fox's three-under par second round 69 saw him seal the halfway lead ahead of a six-man trailing group.

It was a colourful finish for the Auckland-born player with four birdies and three bogeys in his final seven holes, but it was enough for a leading 12-under total.

South Africa's Oliver Bekker set a new course record with a ten-under round that included nine birdies, an eagle at the par five 14th, and a bogey.

The 37-year-old enjoyed a top 10 finish in last week's Ras Al Khaimah Championship on the same course as he shares the lead with five others on nine-under par.

"I just need to keep on doing what I've been doing. Last week I had a good chance of finishing top-three probably and just fell away in the final round," said Bekker.

"Give myself chances, the more chances you get sometimes you're going to take a few of them and then take it from there."

Also tied for second place is fellow countryman Justin Harding, who had put himself into contention at last month's Dubai Desert Classic, where he finished tied for fourth.

Harding shot a five-under 67 to move up the leaderboard, sharing the second alongside Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal, Italy's Francesco Laporta and Australian Jason Scrivener.

"I just think ultimately, the whole game is coming together. Maybe I've been a bit more patient than I have been in the past," said Harding.

"I feel good. To be honest, it felt like I gave myself a great chance at the SA Open and then another good one in Dubai a couple of weeks ago, so it feels like I've been up there for a while now and it's just a matter of putting things together and ultimately