• Trophee Hassan II

Canizares takes commanding lead into final day

Alejandro Canizares is six shots in front of Seve Benson in Morocco © Getty Images

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Alejandro Canizares extended his lead to six heading into the final round of the Trophee Hassan II after moving to 17-under par with a 69 on Saturday in Morocco.

Having held the lead since his opening-day 62, Canizares capitalised on several slip-ups from playing partner Seve Benson - whom he had led by one overnight.

Canizares was level par over the front nine with a bogey at the fourth and a birdie at the fifth, with Benson only two shots back after dropping a shot at the first hole.

Benson then bogeyed the 10th as Canizares stretched further ahead with a birdie. Then came a six at the par-three 12th for Benson, after he overhit a bunker shot into the water on the other side of the green and took a penalty drop, with three more shots needed to get down.

Birdies at 13 and 14 had Canizares eight in front but Benson responded with three of his own on successive holes from the 15th, though dropped a shot at the last to finish in 74.

"It was tough today, especially on the front nine the pins were difficult to get close to and some even difficult to two-putt," Canizares told EuropeanTour.com.

"It's a good round, I kept it going. I was a little not so sharp off the tee today, my misses were right quite a bit so I have something to work on but overall I'm happy to shoot a round in the 60s and hopefully tomorrow I will keep it going.

"My idea was to get to 20-under, that was my focus. I was trying to look forward all the time not behind me. It was a pity I started missing some shots right at the end and I could not take advantage of the par fives on the back nine."

Robert-Jan Derksen sits in third after a bogey-free 67, one shot behind Benson on 10-under.

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