Three unheralded professionals looking for the biggest win of their careers lead the race for the Gleneagles Scottish PGA Championship but the tried and tested campaigners are waiting for any slip.
Irvine’s head pro James McKinnon has a oneshot lead over Chris Currie going into the final round on the King’s Course with Ladybank’s Alan Lockhart a further shot adrift.
None of the three have previously won a fourround Tartan Tour Order of Merit event.
Scott Henderson and Greg Hutcheon have won plenty although never the Scottish – and the North-East pair are menacingly placed within three shots of the lead with halfway leader Mark Kerr, who is not out of it yet despite a difficult round on a sodden day.
Play was delayed for two and a half hours due to 10ml of rain falling overnight and pins had to be placed on the trickiest high points of the King’s Course greens after every putting surface had to be squeedgied dry in the morning.
McKinnon’s 66 to snatch the lead could have been really low as he missed a number of other chances, but it was terrific work in the circumstances.
“The front nine was the best, out in 31 and playing really well,” said the 38yearold, whose longest birdie putt was 10 feet.
“I hit every green and had I holed every putt I’d have shot 60.”
McKinnon has won three Tartan Tour events but none over four rounds and this would represent his biggest win in his 14th attempt at the Scottish.
“I’ll be nervous but the aim is just to play as I did today and over the first two days,” he said.
Currie was steadiness personified, fourunder for the par fives to take him within a shot, and he believes any pressure is on others.
“I’ll just go for it and if my attitude is like it’s been the first three days, I’ll just let it come to me,” said the former parkie who turned pro only five years ago.
Lockhart won the Scottish Assistants Championship a few years ago and is looking for a rare double.
He had no bogeys in his 68 of which the highlight was a chipin for birdie from 15 yards away at the eighth.
“I’ve never won an Order of Merit event and I wasn’t happy with my form this season because my aim was a top seven place in the Order of Merit for a spot in the Johnnie Walker Championship,” said the Bridge of Allan based player.
“That’s still a way off but winning would certainly help.”
Kerr took a threeshot lead into the third round and a triple-bogey seven at the fourth lost all his advantage, but he battled to stay within three of the lead alongside Henderson and Hutcheon, with the dangerous Gareth Wright just a shot behind.
Henderson shot 67 despite the difficulties on the greens caused by the weather, and not feeling as comfortable over the ball as he might.
Hutcheon had two three-putts in the first three holes but a midround surge of three birdies in a row from the sixth got him right and he is well placed for a surge at his first national title.
Leading scores:205 J McKinnon (Irvine) 68 71 66206 C Currie (Caldwell) 70 67 69207 A Lockhart (Ladybank) 71 68 68208 S Henderson (Kings Links) 72 69 67, G Hutcheon (Banchory) 70 70 68, M Kerr (Murrayfield) 68 66 74209 G Wright (West Linton) 71 70 68, R Arnott (Bishopbriggs GR) 71 68 70210 G Fox (Rowallan Castle) 68 71 71, C Ronald (Carluke) 71 72 70, C Kelly (Cawder) 70 71 72, T Buchanan (Duddingston) 72 74 67215 D Orr (East Renfrewshire) 70 74 71, P Wardell (Whitekirk) 72 72 71, C Matheson (Falkirk Tryst) 73 73 69, S Duncan (Carnoustie) 74 71 70216 S Gray (Hayston) 72 71 73, M King (Kingsfield) 71 70 75, P McKechnie (Braid Hills) 72 73 71, J McGhee (Duddingston) 71 74 71.217 S Cairns (Colville Park) 72 73 72, G Brown (Montrose) 71 74 72218 D Patrick (Elie Sports Centre) 75 72 71, N ScottSmith (Palacerigg) 69 78 71, J McCreadie (Buchanan Castle) 69 74 75, G McBain (Gamola) 70 76 72.219 G Smith (Gleneagles Hotel) 71 76 72220 R Rafferty (Roxburghe) 72 73 75221 A Crerar (Panmure) 74 73 74, S McAllister (Renaissance) 74 73 74, S Herald (Adam Hunter Golf) 76 71 74, C Gillies (Kingsfield) 73 73 75222 C Gordon (Edinburgh Golf Centre) 69 76 77223 N Fenwick (Dunbar) 73 71 79, A Reid (West Lothian) 69 75 79, R Cameron (McDonald) 71 75 77224 M Rae (Alyth) 75 70 79, I Brown (Newent) 72 75 77, A Mackenzie (Renaissance) 73 73 78, K Hutton (Downfield) 74 72 78.