DAVID Howell is targeting a top-10 finish at the Trophee Hassan II after finishing his second round three-under at the Golf du Palais Royal in Morocco yesterday.

The Broome Manor pro started the day level par, having bogied three of his last four holes in Thursday’s opening round.

On day one Howell started on the back nine but, having started on the first on Friday, he matched his birdie on the same hole 24 hours earlier. The former Ryder Cup star continued his good start by adding a birdie on the par-four fourth to go two-under.

A bogey at the sixth was the only deviation from par until the 13th, where the 38-year-old started a run that would see him birdie three of the next four holes.

Had his round finished on four-under he would have been tied 20th but a bogey at the par-five 17th and a par at the 18th meant Howell would finish at three-under for the round.

Now the Swindonian is aiming to break into the top 10, after conceding that breakaway leaders Alejandro Canizares, on 14-under, and Seve Benson on 13-under are too far ahead.

Howell said: “I feel like I’m improving as I go along this week and hopefully we can work towards a top-10 finish.

“I haven’t had a top-10 since the win (at St Andrews in September) so it can’t come soon enough. Although I don’t feel completely on top of my game I’m getting there. Hopefully it will be a good weekend.”