Howley leads big names in Irish PGA

With only four players under par following the rain-affected third round of the Irish PGA championships, Ballyliffin professional Francis Howley has surprisingly assumed the lead on four under with a controlled round of 74 at the St Margaret’s club in Dublin.

Howley, part of a four-way lead after the second day’s play, poached five birdies and eight pars in squally conditions to pip the bigger names of Philip Walton and world number eight Padraig Harrington to the overnight lead.