Paul Dunne, an Irish beginner, is sharing a lead of the Open Championship directing to the last day at St Andrews, in company with previous winner Louis Oosthuizen and Australia’s Jason Day.
On a day of favorable climate and fabulous scoring, Dunne, 22 years-old, checked a six-under-standard 66 for 12 under general.
South Africa’s Oosthuizen, who won on the Old Course in 2010, checked a 67, as did world number nine Day.
Jordan Spieth, American, stayed on course to win the initial three noteworthy titles of the year after a third-cycle 66 left him 11 under.
Padraig Harrington (65), two-time champion, is fifth on 10 under, while the nine-man gather one shot back incorporates Spain’s Sergio Garcia, English pair Justin Rose and Danny Willett, and Australia’s Adam Scott.
Overnight pioneer Dustin Johnson checked a 75, the second-most exceedingly bad round of the day, which saw him complete on seven under.
The Open will complete on a Monday for just the second time in its 155-year history as a result of antagonistic climate on Friday and Saturday.
The Old Course brings down its protections
For the third round on Sunday, the Old Course was vulnerable, with scarcely a breath of the wind, blue skies and warm daylight on Scotland’s east drift.
The conditions made for some exciting golf, with birds flying in everywhere throughout the old connections and the lead changing hands for the duration of the day. It was exactly what the competition required following two days of baffling climate delays.
Marc Leishman snatched the early clubhouse lead after an eight-under-standard 64 left him nine under however the Australian was soon eaten up by later starters.
Old and new Irish legends
Dunne, from Greystones, County Wicklow, is meaning to turn into the first Irish winner of the Silver Medal for the most reduced beginner since world number one Rory McIlroy in 2007.
Dunne’s three-round aggregate of 204 broke the past record for the most reduced score by a beginner over the initial 54 gaps of an Open, set by Iain Pyman at Royal St George’s in 1993, by six shots.
Nonetheless, Dunne still has a rivalry for the Silver Medal – American Jordan Niebrugge is just three shots back after a 67.
Dunne said, “I’m not really going to think about winning or where I’m going to finish the last few holes.
“I don’t see why (an amateur could not win a major). I’m well capable of shooting the score that I need to win if everyone else doesn’t play their best.”
Harrington who was a winner in 2007 and 2008 is presently ranked 102 in the world and missed 11 cuts this time. But he, 43-year-old, says his last encounter of confronting on the last day of The Open might grant him convenience.
Harrington was also appreciating Dunne said, “I’ll certainly be telling myself that I’ve done it twice before.
“There’re not too many people who have been leading going into the third round of The Open as an amateur – it’s phenomenal. If I don’t win, I hope he does.”
‘Free-rolling’ Spieth
Spieth, who is a year younger than Dunne, is advancing to become the first man to win the Masters, US Open and Open in the same year since Ben Hogan in 1953.
Spieth said, “I recognize what’s at stake. But ‘free-rolling’ is the phrase I’d use (to describe his attitude).
“I’m going into the final round with plenty of confidence and comfort, which frees me up a little bit to take extra chances.”
