Golf: Cejka pursued by Casey at Gleneagles

Alex Cejka topped the leaderboard after the third round of the Scottish PGA Championship at Gleneagles.

One shot behind the German is England's Paul Casey, who is targeting his first victory in just 11 European Tour events since turning professional.

Cejka carded a 66 for a 12-under-par total of 204, but he is being closely pursued by Casey who shot a 67 and believes he is capable of a remarkable win that would take his earnings to more than £300,000 in just four months in the paid ranks.

The 24-year-old secured his card for next season by finishing joint second in the Great North Open at Slaley Hall on only the fifth of his seven allowed invites this season.

A victory is now the next target with even the Ryder Cup in 2003 on the agenda for the former amateur star, who won four points out of four in Britain and Ireland's Walker Cup victory in 1999.

"The game is in good shape, I'm putting and driving well so why not?" said Casey. "Someone has to, and the game is good enough.

"I hoped I would be in this position at the start of the season and I really was fairly confident. I'd had a long time to get ready and get the mental side of things right and get psyched up not to be afraid when I came out here.

"I feel comfortable in this position. It's nice to be up on leaderboards, it's where I was in amateur golf.

"I want to be playing in majors and all sorts of events and a win would be a big part of that."

Another rising star Justin Rose, fourth in the Open as a 17-year-old amateur in 1998, is also chasing his maiden victory and is just two off the lead on 10 under after an amazing round of 68.

Rose holed a bunker shot for a birdie on the ninth and failed to make a par on the last seven holes with five birdies and two bogeys, which included "the worst eight-iron of my whole life" and a lost ball.

The wayward eight-iron cost him a bogey on the 13th and he did well to salvage a bogey on the 16th after losing a ball off the tee, making a birdie with his second ball.

Five players share fourth place on nine under par including Swindon's David Howell, who went out in 30 in his 66, Ireland's Gary Murphy and Scot Stephen Gallacher.