England’s Chris Hanson faces one of the most important rounds of his golfing career on Sunday as he takes a one shot lead into the final 18 holes of the Trophée Hassan II.
A five under par 67 at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam handed the 30 year old Qualifying School graduate a one shot lead on six under for the week.
Hanson, who finished fourth in a Challenge Tour event in Madrid last week, has never finished higher than 39th on The European Tour, but carded five birdies, two bogeys and an eagle on the par-five 12th to sit a shot clear of compatriot David Dixon and Clément Berardo of France.
Having carded three birdies over his first 11 holes, Hanson suddenly found himself leading when his chip on the 12th hit the pin and dropped for eagle.
And while bogeys at the 13th and 17th followed, Hanson bounced back on both occasions as he finished his round with a birdie from five feet.
“It’s not something I thought I was going to go out there and shoot today but I played some really nice stuff and took my chances when I got them,” he said.
“I felt I got rewarded for some good golf today.
“It was a little bit of a lucky chip – it hit the flag and dropped - but you need those sort of things and hopefully it will set me up for a nice Sunday.
“I drove the ball really nicely and kept myself in play a lot of the time. From there you can score on this golf course.
“The tactics for tomorrow are the same again – it’s a brutal golf course out there and just stay patient and probably accepting that you’re going to make some bogeys, and taking your chances when you can.”
Dixon came home in 33 to card a round of 67, with playing partner Berardo shooting a 68 after chipping in at the 13th.
Another Englishman, Joshua White, lies fourth after dropping two shots late on, with in-form Korean Jeunghun Wang fifth on three under.
Overnight leader Francesco Laporta shot a 76 to drop into a seven-way tie for sixth on two under, with European Tour winners Estanislao Goya and Robert Rock amongst those on the same mark.
