England’s Andrew Marshall finds himself now with three others heading to the final round of the Royal Golf Mohammedia Open by HLO in Casablanca, Morocco.
South Afirca’s Tyler Hogarty, seeking his maiden win on the MENA Golf Tour, was the star on day two with the 24-year-old South Africa posting a bogey-free 68 to join the English trio of Marshall, Zane Scotland and Jamie Elson atop the leader board at seven under.
The four are two clear of Morocco’s Younes El Hassani and Chris Robb of Scotland.
England’s Lee Corfield, a four-time winner on the tour, was in the group a further shot adrift at four under, raising the prospects of a close finish on Friday.
Playing alongside overnight leader Marshall in a two-ball, Hogarty made the most of the calm morning conditions, setting himself up for a shot at the title.
“We were off early in the day and it was millionaires golf – nobody in front of us and nobody behind. We fed off each other a little bit and had a pretty enjoyable day,” said, Hogarty, who boasts a string of top-five finishes on the tour.
South African Tyler Hogarty moves into a share of the lead in Casablanca.
“I made three birdies on par-5s and finished off quite nicely with another one on the 18th when I hit my pitching wedge to within eight feet and holed the ensuing putt.
“I will focus on what I have been doing and try to stay consistent. Hope things will go my way this time around. I have a very good strategy in place and will try to stick to it as much as possible,” he added.
It was Morocco’s El Hassani, who fired the best round of the day to haul himself back into contention with a late barrage of birdies. Three over after his first six holes, the experienced Moroccan stormed home in style, reeling off eight birdies, including three in a row from the 16th.
At five under after 36 holes, El Hassani led the MENA Division by a good four shots over his compatriot Ahmed Marjan as Amine Joudar, who opened with a 69, stumbled to a 76.
“I have played on this course many times before and know what it takes to string together a good round. I am very pleased with my efforts. If I continued to do what I have been doing, I stand a good chance of posting a good finish,” said El Hassani, who is based in Tangiers.
A nine-time winner on the tour, Scotland eagled the par-5, seventh to breathe life into his round. “I hit some very shots out there and made some good par saves.
Overall, a pretty good day,” said the Englishman, who hit a mid iron to about 12 feet for his first eagle in 36 holes.
“There are many good players in the mix, especially Andrew (Marshall) who is quite an experienced player. I think making birdies will the key to success on the final day,” said Scotland, who is also a golf in DUBAi ambassador.
England’s Edward Holland posted a second round bogey free 70 to lead the amateur division, two shots ahead of Omar Arhazraf of Morocco.
Elsewhere, the winner of the 2015 MENA Golf Tour Order of Merit title Thriston Lawrence moved to three over after a second round 72 while England’s Luke Joy, a two-time winner on the tour, shot a level par 72 to reach two over par, leaving himself with a lot of catching up to do.
An initiative of the Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation, the MENA Golf Tour was created in 2011 with the aim of developing golf in the region. It is affiliated to R&A, the worldwide golf governing body based in the home of golf, St Andrews, and the Arab Golf Federation.
