The American birdied the final two holes at Doha Golf Club to make up for a fairly lacklustre day to record a one-under-par 71 for a one-shot lead over countryman Zach Bauchou.

Bauchou returned a 70 and is three ahead of Italian Stefano Mazzoli, who aced the par-3 17th, for a 69 and Gaganjeet Bhullar from India, also in with a 69.

Uihlein was on the brink of winning the International Series Thailand a month ago but surrendered a two-shot lead on the final hole to finish second behind Chinese-Taipei’s Lee Chieh-po.

 “Yeah, it was hard. I’m pleased, I mean, I hit 16 greens so my two bogeys were on the greens that I missed. So other than that, it was pretty steady.

“I don't feel like I was really ever out of position, and yeah it was a tough day, I mean, really tough,” Uihlein said.

“You know, it blew all day yesterday, blew all night and morning, so it was only going to get crispier. So, the greens definitely felt like they had a little bit more bite to them today, and it was tough to get close,” he added.

He is also in the running to win The International Series Rankings with just one more event remaining, next week’s PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers. He is currently in fourth place and could overtake the leader fellow American John Catlin tomorrow with a win.

Mazzoli’s ace on 17 was the first of his career, dunking his ball straight into the cup.

“It went straight in and we never saw it again,” said the Italian, who is in the running to win this year’s Asian Tour Rookie of the Year Award.

“Usually, you know it can bounce out and come back, but it was straight in and never moved out of the way. After a tough battle on the course today with the wind, I mean, I couldn't ask for a better finish than this. I was already pleased with a birdie on 16 and, I mean, I never had a hole-in-one, so I wasn't expecting that, for sure and then obviously I got a birdie also on 18.”

South African Louis Oosthuizen and Suteepat Prateeptienchai from Thailand are tied for fifth on eight under following rounds of 71 and 70 respectively.

Catlin shot a 70 and is three under and is gradually moving closer to winning the Asian Tour Order of Merit title with none of his nearest pursuers making a challenge.