Paul Dunne leads Trophee Hassan golf

Ireland's Paul Dunne is in the box seat to claim his maiden European Tour victory and leads by two shots at the Trophee Hassan in Morocco.

Ireland's Paul Dunne will take a two-shot lead into the final round of the Trophee Hassan II in Rabat as he seeks to win a first European Tour title.

Dunne, who shared the 54-hole lead in the 2015 Open at St Andrews while still an amateur, carded six birdies and a double bogey in a second consecutive 69 to finish eight-under-par at Royal Dar Es Salam.

Italy's Renato Paratore is Dunne's nearest challenger after surging through the field courtesy of eight birdies and a solitary bogey, the 20-year-old completing a course-record 66 to be at six-under.

England's Paul Waring, Spain's Pablo Larrazabal and Denmark's Lasse Jensen are a shot further back at five-under, with halfway leader Gregory Havret part of a six-strong group on four-under.

Dunne began the day two shots off the lead, but found himself three clear of the chasing pack after five birdies in his first 12 holes.

The 24-year-old then double-bogeyed the 13th after his approach plugged in a greenside bunker, but steadied the ship with four pars before holing out from 25 feet for a birdie on the 18th.

"I've been playing well recently and haven't played a tournament in four weeks with the break we had, so it felt like it took me a while to get going with my swing," said Dunne, whose sixth place finish in the Tshwane Open in March was the best of his career to date.

"But today it was a much easier round than the last couple of days. I didn't putt as well as I did yesterday, but I hit the ball a lot better so am really pleased.

"I wasn't expecting to be leading and it was a bit of a bonus. I think now if I play well I kind of expect to be up there with a chance."

The only Australian left in the field, Wade Ormsby, shot a three-over 76 and is out of contention at three-over for the tournament.


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Source: AAP



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