Bekker leads by two shots in Catalunya on DP World Tour

The playing partners battled throughout round three and it was Bekker who finished on top, carding a 67 to get to 11 under and sit two ahead of Canter, who carded a 70.

Italian duo Lorenzo Gagli and Edoardo Molinari were then at eight under, a shot clear of Kiwi Ryan Fox and Pole Adrian Meronk.

Bekker has five top tens in nine starts this term as he plays his first season with full playing privileges after graduating from the European Challenge Tour.

His third-place finish at the Steyn City Championship was the best of his DP World Tour career but he has seven wins on the Sunshine Tour and now has an excellent platform from which to get over the line in Girona.

'Give my best'

“My short game really got me out of a bit of trouble today on a few occasions and I managed to capitalise on the shots that I did well so, all in all, great,” he said.

“Tomorrow I’m just going to do the same thing, it’s been working for me, I’m not going to change anything. If it’s my day, it’s my day, if not, just try to give my best and see what happens.”

The 37-year-old had four birdies and an eagle on hole 15 in his round, with a solitary bogey on hole nine.

Austrian Bernd Wiesberger also carded a 67 to sit at six under alongside Spanish duo Ivan Cantero Gutierrez and Abu Dhabi Golf Club Honorary Member Pablo Larrazábal, England’s Richard McEvoy and Dane Jeff Winther.

Former Dubai resident and winner of the 2001 Dubai Desert Classic, 51 year old Thomas Bjorn (Den), shot a level par 72, to slip back to tied 12th but still in a strong position for an impressive finish.

The final round tee times are all off Tee 1 with the leaders, Gagli, Canter and Bekker, out last at 12.10 pm local Spanish time.