Dylan Frittelli shot 69 on Thursday to join a share of 23rd place at the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final, where the top 45 players on the Challenge Tour Order of Merit are competing.

The 24-year-old shot 34 on the back nine at Al Moue Golf Club to join seven others at three under par for the tournament, which was 10 strokes behind midway-leader Bernd Ritthammer.

The front-runner from Germany shot 64, which included an eagle at the 12th and just one bogey. He was one stroke clear of second-placed Alexander Bjork and a further shot clear of Jens Dantorp.

Frittelli won the Rolex Trophy in August and recorded three top 10s in his last five starts, including a tie for sixth place at the Foshan Open two weeks ago.

This week he opened the tournament with a round of level-par 72, then began his move towards the front with a solid 69 on Thursday.

Frittelli ranks eighth on the Challenge Tour Order of Merit and has safely earned his card for the 2016-17 European Tour season. He’ll be looking to improve his position, but this week is really a bonus tournament for the young South African.

Friday will be ‘moving day’ in Oman, and there is little doubt that he’ll take full advantage.