Mohammedia: Amine Joudar turned the par-fives into his personal playgrounds to charge into contention as England’s Lee Corfield held onto his overnight lead going into the final round of the Mena Golf Tour’s Royal Golf D’Anfa Open on Friday.

The experienced Moroccan, along with Sweden’s Per Barth, shot matching 67s – the day’s best score – in benign conditions to join Spain’s Xavier Puig for a share of fourth on seven-under.

That left the trio four shots adrift of leader Corfield, who returned a 69, to stay one clear at the summit of a congested leaderboard going into Round 3 as Scotland’s Paul Doherty carded a 68 to maintain his solo second position on 10 under.

With England’s Ross McGowan, who won last week in Rabat, occupying third on eight-under after back-to-back 68s, there could be a close finish in Mohammedia as 24 players find themselves in red figures heading into the final round.

Morocco’s Joudar attributed his solid round to his aggressive approach on the par-5s he played in four under, including an eagle on the 12th. “Basically, I stayed out of trouble and created good scoring opportunities on the par-5s, in particular.

“My short game was pretty sharp which kind of helped me keep the momentum going,” said Joudar, who made the turn at three-under after an early bogey on the fourth.

“I think my game is good enough to win at this level. Just need a little of luck here and there to close the deal,” said the Moroccan, who is currently leading the Mena Division for the Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation Award, one shot ahead of compatriot Ahmad Marjane, who returned back-to-back 69s to stay in the frame.

England’s Corfield, who is chasing a fourth title on the tour, felt he again played some solid golf despite two early bogeys. “I managed to minimise mistakes on the course which was the key,” said Corfield, who played the last 13 holes in four under.

“You never know what tomorrow holds, but I feel like I am in a good position going into the final round,” he added.

His compatriot McGowan also felt he did not strike the ball great, but eagles of the 12th and 16th saved the day for him. “Of the two eagles, the one on the 12th was more pleasing as I holed a long putt from 20 feet. I think I am in it, to win it,” said McGowan, the winner of the 2009 Madrid Masters on the European Tour.