Canizares extends lead to six strokes

bruced
March 15, 2014

lejandro Canizares extended his lead in the Hassan Trophy on Saturday with a third round 69.

The Spaniard enjoyed a single-stroke advantage at the start of play, but now leads England’s Seve Benson by six ahead of the final day.

Holland’s Robert-Jan Derksen is another stroke back after his 67 in what turned out to be the only bogey-free round of the day.

“It was tough today, especially on the front nine the pins were difficult to get close to and some even difficult to two-putt,” said Canizares.

“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.

“Hopefully I will keep calm and keep my rhythm and focus on every shot tomorrow,” said the golfer who is looking for his first European Tour win since 2008.

Having dropped a shot on the fourth, Canizares recorded a birdie on the fifth before he two-putted on the par-five 10th for another birdie.

After a bogey on 10, Benson hit back straight away with a birdie on the 11th, but then took an even more costly six on the par-three 12th after finding a greenside bunker off the tee.

Canizares would go on to birdie the 13th and 14th in a round that was marked by good composure.

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