Malaysia’s Ervin Chang showed he’s ready for battle in the final stages with a second consecutive round of 68 to join English teenage amateur Harley Smith at the top of the leader board in the Aramco Invitational Tournament today.

The pair hold the joint lead going into the concluding two rounds in the final Asian Development Tour (ADT) event of the year, and the extra prize money available in the US$250,000 event has thrown the season-long Order of Merit race wide open.

Chang, winner earlier this year of the inaugural Kyi Hla Han Future Champions Award, knows that a victory here would almost guarantee an entry into the Asian Tour for next season.

“My plan for the weekend will be just trying to stay patient, get comfortable and do what I’ve been doing for the first two rounds and hopefully go from there,” he said after his round.

DHAHRAN, SAUDI ARABIA: Harley Smith, amateur of England, pictured on Thursday November 30, 2023 during Round Two of the Aramco Invitational Tournament. The US$ 250,000 event is part of the Asian Development Tour and is held at the Rolling Hills Golf Club, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, between November 29 and December 2, 2023. The top 10 finishers in the season-long Order of Merit will receive Asian Tour cards for the 2024 season. Picture by Paul Lakatos / Asian Development Tour.

“It definitely feels good (to be in the lead). I’ve been working on my mental game a little bit prior to this week and going in to the weekend tied for the lead right now, I don’t feel too much pressure,” he added.

“I know there are a lot of good players out there so I just have to tell myself to stay calm, stay patient. I actually enjoy playing in the wind a lot, it’s fun.”

The top ten finishers in the OOM after this event at the Rolling Hills Golf Club will be awarded Asian Tour cards for the 2024 season, and with US$45,000 for the winner, a victory here at the richest event on the ADT this season opens up the chance of a card for virtually anyone on the list.

Australia’s Aaron Wilkin (68), winner of the BRG Open Golf Championship in Vietnam in September, is also looking to elevate his game for next season. He sits at seven under for the tournament in solo third spot.

DHAHRAN, SAUDI ARABIA: Aaron Wilkin of Australia pictured on Thursday November 30, 2023 during Round Two of the Aramco Invitational Tournament. The US$ 250,000 event is part of the Asian Development Tour and is held at the Rolling Hills Golf Club, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, between November 29 and December 2, 2023. The top 10 finishers in the season-long Order of Merit will receive Asian Tour cards for the 2024 season. Picture by Paul Lakatos / Asian Development Tour.

In fourth spot are Sweden’s Erik Jonasson (69) together with the Thai duo of Denwit Boriboonsub (70) and Pattaraphol Khanthacha (69). They are on six under par and will also be looking to challenge for the lead tomorrow.

Tawit Polthai (68) of Thailand lies in solo seventh place a shot further back, followed by a large group at four under par, including the Japanese duo of Shinichi Mizuno (70) and Naoki Sekito (68), who won the OB Golf Championship on the ADT in September.

They share eighth position with Egyptian amateur Issa Abouelela, Chi Quan Truong of Vietnam and the Thai trio of Vanchai Luangnitikul (71), Charng-Tai Sudsom (67) and Tunyapat Sukkoed (72).

DHAHRAN, SAUDI ARABIA: Erik Jonasson of Sweden pictured on Thursday November 30, 2023 during Round Two of the Aramco Invitational Tournament. The US$ 250,000 event is part of the Asian Development Tour and is held at the Rolling Hills Golf Club, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, between November 29 and December 2, 2023. The top 10 finishers in the season-long Order of Merit will receive Asian Tour cards for the 2024 season. Picture by Paul Lakatos / Asian Development Tour.

Kevin Akbar (70) of Indonesia, who won the Indonesia Pro-Am presented by Combiphar & Nomura in August, leads a group on three under in 15th spot, together with Korea’s Minhyeok Yang (74), Berry Henson (71) of the USA, Nopparat Panichphol (71) of Thailand and Malaysia’s Daeng Rahman (70).

No fewer than ten of the 11 tournament winners this year teed it up in Saudia Arabia this week, and with the withdrawal of OOM leader Deyen Lawson due to injury after the first round, six remain in the competition for the final two rounds.

The cut was made at one over par, with 52 of the original 119 starters making it to the final two rounds of the competition.