Scott Vincent’s patience and consistency paid off as the Zimbabwean golfer held onto a one-shot lead heading into the final round of the International Series Morocco, despite a cold putter that kept him from pulling away on Saturday.

Playing the par-73 Royal Golf Dar Es Salam course, Vincent posted a bogey-free two-under-par 71 to remain in front at the end of the third round. His sole birdies came on the par-5 fifth and the drivable par-4 17th, where a chip to two feet finally gave him the edge he needed.

Vincent, who lives in Denver, Colorado, missed several scoring opportunities on the greens, but a clean card kept him just ahead of Thailand’s Settee Prakongvech, who fired a six-under 67 but bogeyed the final hole to fall one back.

Steady round despite missed chances

“It was a little challenging today. I didn’t feel like I drove it well, which made things more difficult,” said Vincent, whose last international win came at the 2022 International Series England. “But to play bogey-free out here is always nice. The start really saved my round — I made some solid par saves on holes two and three.”

Vincent’s close calls on the greens included a 10-foot putt that horseshoed out on the 16th and another that came up short on the 18th. Only two players went bogey-free during the round, a testament to the tough playing conditions.

Chasing pack grows as Prakongvech, Bai shine

Settee Prakongvech, who placed second last week at the Asian Development Tour event in Marrakech, stayed hot with eight birdies to climb into solo second. The 30-year-old from Chonburi credited his short game for the low round.

“My putting was key today. I had a few bad shots, but I recovered well with long par saves,” said Prakongvech. “I’ve adapted to the conditions after arriving early in Morocco. Last week gave me a lot of confidence.”

China’s Bobby Bai also matched Prakongvech’s 67 to take solo third at nine-under. Bai, who turned pro in 2019 and previously played on the Korn Ferry Tour, produced a clutch par save on the 18th after finding trouble off the tee.

“I had to lay up after missing left off the tee, and from 227 yards, I hit a draw with a 7-iron that just caught the front of the green. It was a tough two-putt from six feet, but making par there was big,” said Bai.

Logjam in fourth as field closes in

Tied for fourth at eight-under were Jack Buchanan (68), Maverick Antcliff (72), Austen Truslow (69), and Thai rising star Suteepat Prateeptienchai (71). Two-time International Series winner Peter Uihlein slipped to a tie for eighth with a bogey on the final hole, matching China’s Yanwei Liu, who shot a 71.

The International Series Morocco, part of the Asian Tour’s 10-event elevated circuit, offers a crucial stepping stone for players eyeing a spot in the LIV Golf League. With the field tightening and conditions tough, Sunday’s final round promises a high-stakes finish.