GOLF – CALLUM Tarren took a slender one-shot lead after the third and penultimate round of the 2025 Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship yesterday at The Royal Golf Club.
The Englishman now heads into today’s final 18 holes of play at the top of the leaderboard after holding off a stellar chasing pack on a roller-coaster third day, which ended with the top 12 all within just three shots of each other.
Tarren went into yesterday’s action in the kingdom’s DP World Tour event with a two-shot lead, but was caught at the summit early on after opening with three straight pars.
His round then burst into life with birdies at the fourth, sixth and seventh, sending him four clear. But there were more twists and turns to come as three bogeys in five holes from the eighth allowed countryman Daniel Brown to join him at the top.
Tarren was never overtaken though, and finished the day alone at the summit on 13 under par after parring his way home to sign for a level-par 72.
“I’m a bit frustrated really,” he said. “I got off to such a good start, felt so comfortable.
“I just missed a few putts in that mid-section of the round, three-putted the eighth, a short one at the ninth, a good chance at the 10th, and didn’t capitalise.
“At the 11th I felt like the tee-shot wasn’t bad, it got a hard kick right, I think. Then it’s tough to that back flag, a short putt on the next.
“And then I kind of hung in there coming in. I’m frustrated but still in the lead and we’ll go again tomorrow.”
The 34-year-old can take great confidence from his third-round performance as he goes in search of his maiden DP World Tour title today, having given himself plenty of birdie chances on the back nine.
“I’ve felt comfortable all week and I felt comfortable out there today,” he added. “The start showed it – through seven holes I was cruising.
“Just a couple of missed putts here and there but that’s golf. Final group tomorrow again and I have the lead so there’s lots of positives to take from it.”
Tarren will face strong competition from the high-quality quartet in second place just one shot back, including Spain’s Pablo Larrazabal, Italian Francesco Laporta, and Englishmen Brown and Brandon Robinson Thompson.
“I wish one day I could come to Bahrain for holidays, but tomorrow I will try to play good golf, start well,” said Larrazabal. “I’ve played almost 450 tournaments but the nerves are still there because I care about it. There is nothing better than to win a golf tournament.”
The winner of the 2025 Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship will pocket a cool $425,000, while the runner-up will take home $275,000. Third place will receive $157,500, fourth $125,000, and fifth will get $106,000.
Players ranked sixth through 68th will also come away with prize money.
Joel Girrbach of Switzerland and Yannik Paul of Germany will be the first pairing to tee off in today’s final round at 6.33am. The last two golfers who will begin play at 12.10pm are Tarren and Robinson Thompson, who on day one carded a new course record in Bahrain.
In addition to the elite competition on the greens, the 2025 Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship will have plenty to do off-course in the Championship Village, designed to entertain friends, families, and fans of all ages. General admission is free, while elevated and premium experiences are also available.
Registration for all ticket options is available on manama.platinumlist.net.
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