Leader Van Rooyen is hoping to learn from his experience in Ireland
ERIK VAN ROOYEN carded three late birdies to take a one-shot lead into the final round of the Hassan Trophy in Morocco.
The South African started the day three two shots off the lead but fired a 68 in Rabat to move to eight under as he looks for a first European Tour win.
Spaniard Jorge Campillo is still looking for a first professional victory at the age of 32 and he was Van Rooyen’s nearest challenger, one shot clear of American Sean Crocker.
Scot Grant Forrest and England’s Lee Slattery were then at five under alongside Australian Wade Ormsby and American Julian Suri.
Best of the Irish is Gavin Moynihan, who hit a twounder-par 71 and is level for the tournament, eight behind. Michael Hoey is two over after a 74, while Paul Dunne could only shoot 77.
Van Rooyen took a four-shot lead into the final round of the Irish Open last summer only to finish fourth and is hoping that experience will stand him in good stead.
‘I was quite nervous last year,’ he said. ‘I think I’ve been in this position a bunch of of times now. The nerves will be there again but I love to be in this position.’
Meanwhile, in the US PGA Tour pairs event, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, the pair of Shane Lowry and Pádraig Harrington missed the cut after the delayed second round. Graeme McDowell and partner Henrik Stenson as well as Seamus Power (playing with Canadian David Hearn) were part of a tight third round leaderboard as the pairs played fourballs yesterday.