Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Stephen Gallacher carded two eagles in his last six holes on Saturday en route to a 10-under 62 and a 3- stroke lead after three rounds of the Dubai Desert Classic.
Gallacher, who has one European Tour title, finished at 21-under-par 195 to establish a new tournament record. Tiger Woods set the old mark of 196 in 2001 on the Majlis course at Emirates Golf Club.
Second-round leader Richard Sterne carded a 6-under 66 and is alone in second at minus-18. Thorbjorn Olesen posted a 67 and is two back at 16-under-par 200.
Felipe Aguilar shot 6-under 66 and was joined in fourth place at minus-14 by Jeev Milkha Singh (67) and Tommy Fleetwood (69).
Steve Webster (65) and Maximilian Kieffer (69) are one stroke further back at 13-under 203. Lee Westwood (66) is alone in ninth at minus-12.
Sterne stumbled to a bogey at the first to slip into a share of the lead and Gallacher quickly moved ahead with a 4-foot birdie putt at the second.
Gallacher rolled in a birdie putt from the fringe on No. 3. After Sterne matched that birdie, Gallacher sank another 4-foot birdie try on the fifth to move two clear at 14-under.
Sterne briefly moved back into a share of the lead at 14-under with back-to- back birdie efforts at seven and eight.
The 38-year-old Gallacher sank a 10-footer at No. 9 to move back in front and went two ahead with a birdie at 12 before his approach at the par-5 13th hit the stick and stopped three feet away. The Scotsman kicked in that eagle try to move four clear.
"I went on a run of where I had good numbers (to the flags)," Gallacher admitted. "I just tried to be patient because I knew I could take my chances at 17 and 18. I wanted to try to get as many birdies as I could."
Sterne birdied the same hole to get within three. He moved within two after a birdie on No. 15.
After four pars in a row, Gallacher's second at the par-5 found the bunker over the green. However, he holed that shot for a closing eagle.
"I was right on the limit with my rescue on my second shot, so I thought I may as well hit it in the trap," said Gallacher. "I putted it really good today. I changed drivers after my old one had a hairline fracture, and I've hit a lot of drivers this week, so that's helped."
Sterne birdied the 18th from three feet out to cut the deficit to three.
NOTES: Gallacher's lone victory was at the 2004 dunhill links championship ... Defending champion Rafael Cabrera-Bello carded his third straight 69 and shares 25th place at minus-9.
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