Hailing from the city that has given the world some of the finest supercars, including Ferrari, Italian Luca Cianchetti is hoping for a fast finish and win his first title on the Asian Development Tour after he grabbed a one-shot lead going into the final round of the US$125,000 Morocco Rising Stars Marrakech, the first of the two back-to-back ADT events being played in the country.

The 30-year-old Modena native is no stranger to success, having won the 2016 European Amateur Championship and then three titles on the Alps Tour. However, if he gets it done at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Samanah Golf Club on Sunday, it will be the biggest professional win in the career of the promising Italian.

Playing one group behind the leaders, Cianchetti birdied the last for a third-round five-under par 67, which was good for a 13-under par total and one ahead of England’s Sam Broadhurst, who closed with six birdies in his last seven holes to card the day’s best round of 64 and move to 12-under total.

Local hero and overnight leader Ayoub Lguirati seemed to be on course to remain on top of the leaderboard after 54 holes, but two late bogeys saw him slip to tied third place at 11-under with an even-par round.

Joining Lguirati was another Italian Michele Ortolani, who has made a name traveling all parts of the world and playing in far-flung tours, including India’s PGTI Tour. Ortolani shot a 65 and was joined by Thailand’s Varanyu Rattanaphiboonkij and the Philippines’ Aidric Chan, who both shot rounds of 69.

Michele Ortolani of Italy. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Playing in his first season on the ADT, Cianchetti is hoping to get his Asian Tour card, and Sunday could be a big step for him.

“I started off nicely with some good drives that I could take advantage off, because I was hitting it really close on the greens. I was just so-so on the back nine, but I kept my patience and made a nice eagle on the 12th. Made a little mistake on 17 with a bogey, but I made a good recovery with a very good birdie on the 18th,” said Cianchetti, who qualified for the 2017 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.

“I was looking at the leaderboard, but I tried to get as many chances as possible during the round, and I’m happy with how I capitalised on them. I was just trying to play my game. It has worked the last three days, so I hope it will work again tomorrow.”

Broadhurst, son of European legend Paul, missed a chance of winning his first ADT title at the Lexus Challenge earlier this year in Vietnam, where two bogeys on the back nine denied him glory.

“Today was kind of cooler to start the day. The ball wasn’t going as far as it has been all week, which, I guess, suited me a bit better. I really struggled yesterday trying to hit the right number as it kept flying too far,” said the 28-year-old, who was on the bag of his father when he won the 2016 Senior Open Championship.

“I feel like I learned a lot from the Lexus Challenge. I was too much engrossed in the final group. I didn’t really know where I was until the 18th, and then got told I needed a birdie. Obviously, missed that short one, which is annoying. I kind of felt like I turned it into a match play. And you just can’t do that. You have just got to stay the moment really and concentrate on your own game. Doesn’t really matter who you’re playing, or what your partners are doing.”

Apart from the winner’s cheque, the champion this week will almost be assured one of the two invitations up for grabs for the US$2 million International Series Morocco, which will be played from July 3-6. The two leading players from an aggregate money list from the two Morocco ADT events (not otherwise exempt) will earn the invitations.