Flags were at half-mast and players wore black ribbons in tribute to the five-time Major winner after his passing was confirmed in the early hours of the morning, and on an emotional day overnight leader Aiken managed to extend his advantage to two strokes with a par-72 round.
The 27-year-old began his penultimate round with five straight pars before he suffered a setback with a bogey at the par-four sixth, but he responded immediately by regaining that shot at the following hole.
A birdie at the par-three 11th improved him to nine-under through 47 holes, but a bogey at the par-four 14th meant he slipped back to eight-under.
The South African has four players hot on his heels at six-under, most notably home hope Pablo Larrazabal who may now find himself under more pressure and expectation to ensure a Spaniard wins their own national title.
Larrazabal made a miserable start to his day with a bogey at the opening hole, and his birdie at the par-four fourth was soon erased by a second dropped shot at the sixth.
The 27-year-old then carded two birdies on his inward nine but successive bogeys at the par-four 15th and 16th meant a one-over-par round of 73 for the Spaniard, leaving him in a share of second with Romain Wattel (72), Scott Jamieson (72) and Anders Hansen.
Denmark’s Hansen carded the best score on a windy day, with his six birdies, two bogeys and double-bogey ensuring a three-under-par round of 72 that saw him climb the leaderboard.
