Padraig Harrington slips back in UAE, Shane Lowry 22nd in Saudi

Nicolai Hojgaard made eight birdies and an eagle to move to the top of leaderboard heading into the final day of the inaugural Ras Al Khaimah Championship in the United Arab Emirates.

Denmark's Hojgaard, who also hit two bogeys on Saturday – finished the day with a birdie in a third round of 64 at the Al Hamra Golf Club to go 20 under par and move three shots clear of Scotsman David Law.

Padraig Harrington slipped to five under overall and a share of 49th after a level-par 72. The Dubliner was on course for a flawless round before a costly double-bogey on 17.

Law started the day at the top and his first drop shot came at the end of the day to further lose ground on leader Hojgaard.

The Scot made par on 13 holes and a birdie on four occasions before recording a bogey on the final hole.

Finland’s Tapio Pulkkanen is one shot further back after he also claimed a round of 64 that included nine birdies and a bogey to put himself into contention heading into the final day.

Oliver Bekker moved to up to fourth after shooting a round of 66, while Thomas Detry is a shot further back in a four-way tie for fifth alongside Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre, Englishman Jordan Smith and Johannes Veerman of America.

Full leaderboard

Meanwhile, at the Saudi International, American Harold Varner (-12) leads Spain's Adri Arnaus by one shot with England's Tommy Fleetwood two back on 10 under.

Shane Lowry dropped one place to a tie for 22nd after a level-par 70. The Offaly man is 10 shots behind Varner.

The star of the show this weekend is 14-year-old Ratchanon Chantananuwat, who was the only amateur to make the cut on Saturday.

The Thai has made the cut on Asian Tour events before but even as his rivals out-drive him with ease, he is learning a lot from