Dougherty moves clear

Nick Dougherty surged into a three-shot lead in the third round of the Alfred Dunhill Links championship today.

The 25-year-old from Liverpool, aiming for a second European Tour title after winning the Caltex Masters back in 2005, had played 11 holes at St Andrews’ Old Course in five under par to move onto 16 under for the tournament.

Dougherty, who has racked up numerous top-10 finishes this season – including seventh in the US Open at Oakmont – had started the day in a share of top spot and birdies at the fourth and fifth got him off to a good start.

The Englishman conjured further birdies at the seventh and eighth to reach the turn in 32 and continued that fine form with another birdie at the 11th to boost his title charge.

Australian Peter O’Malley, who equalled the Carnoustie course record of 64 during Friday’s second round, was making good progress on 13 under through six holes of his third round at St Andrews but slipped back when he found the bunker at the treacherous Road Hole 17th – his eighth.

O’Malley was forced to hack out backwards and took an ugly double bogey six.

The former Scottish Open champion recovered with birdies at the 18th and the first to move back to 13 under.

Northern Ireland teenager Rory McIlroy continued to underline his huge potential as he came charging into the title race at Kingsbarns.

The 18-year-old rookie, making only his second appearance as a professional, made a rousing start by reeling birdies at his first four holes. The former European Amateur champion made another gain at the seventh to hoist himself to 11 under.

Justin Rose, second on the European Tour Order of Merit, was also making purposeful strides up the standings having played 11 holes at Kingsbarns in four under.

The 27-year-old Englishman made an inauspicious start with a bogey at the first but he swiftly made amends with an eagle three at the 516-yard third and birdies at the fifth, sixth and ninth to go to 11 under for the tournament.

Open champion Padraig Harrington, the Dunhill Links winner both last year and in 2002, was one under through eight at Kingsbarns but found himself seven off the pace at nine under overall.