RIYADH: Luke Joy of England had an epiphany in his putting after switching short sticks to shoot the day’s low round of 8-under 64 and earn a share of the lead with Spain’s Gabriel Canizares after the second round Tuesday in the 3rd American Express Dirab Golf Championship at Dirab Golf & Country Club.

Overnight co-leader with English pro Craig Hinton, Canizares missed the outright lead when he bogeyed the 18th after his drive hit the trees on the left for a 2-under 70 that gave the 41-year old Spaniard a 9-under total of 135 in a tie with Joy.

Unable to convert birdie putts despite pretty good approach shots in his first-round 71 , the 27-year old from Dorset, England was hot this time taking out a newer model of Odyssey putter he favors.

“I had a new putter in the bag today and it worked very well,” said Joy who will start in Wednesday’s third and final round in the last group with Canizares.

“I played the same game as yesterday except that I made the putts that I missed on the first day. I really putted well,” said Joy.

The only missed putt for Joy was No. 5 that he bogeyed. He hit 7 birdies and one eagle – on the par-5 13 where he dumped his 5-iron approach from 211 yards out after a good drive to 15 feet and drained the putt.

“This is fun golf course. If you keep the ball in play you can attack it. Hopefully tomorrow I can do the same,” said Joy who won two events last year on the MENA Golf Tour.

Canizares mixed four birdies with 2 bogeys. He made the turn on 3 under with birdies on the second, fifth and ninth holes.

Canizares then parred the next four holes, bogeyed 14 but recovered with a birdie on the next hole, and was 10 under for the tournament until that home hole bogey cost him the solo lead.

“I will try to shoot as low a round as I can in tomorrow’s final round,” said Canizares.

Hinton rued an up and down round Tuesday and found himself one stroke back of the co-leaders on 136 after a 71.

“Still I have a chance. I’ll just play aggressive and make birdies early,” said Hinton of Wednesday’s final round where the top 15 plus ties and the leading 10 amateurs will continue play.

Two strokes further back on 138 were Spain’s Mariano Ochoca and Thriston Arthur Lawrence of South Africa, who had matching cards of 68 Tuesday.

England’s James Allan, the MENA Tour’s top amateur last season, was alone on 139 after shooting 68 with a big group on 140.

With a tightly bunched leaderboard the chase for the top prize of $9,000 for the pros on this sixth leg of the MENA Tour is a wide open affair.

American Express is the title sponsor of the tournament. The co-sponsors are Saudi Xerox, Almarai Co., Marriott Riyadh Hotel and Osim.