Welsh wizard Gareth Wright cast a spell over his rivals with a round to go in the £50,000 Gleneagles Scottish PGA championship.
The West Linton tour pro started the third day two shots off the pace but finished it four strokes clear of the field after adding a six-under-par 65 to earlier rounds of 65 and 67.
At 16-under-par 197, Wright has shaken off long-time leader Jason McCreadie, who shot a two-over-73 and on his 43rd birthday to boot.
The nearest challenger is now Banchory’s Greig Hutcheon, who finished birdie-birdie-eagle for a 64 and a running tally of 201. Hutcheon won the Scottish pro title in 1999 when he was based in Bristol.
Wright shows no signs of coming down from the crest of his wave, with the 2012 Glenmuir club pros champion is full of confidence after making the cut in the Open at Muirfield at fortnight ago.
McCreadie, the winner in 2008, slipped back to third on 10-under after a sloppy 73, with Aberdonian Greg McBain, lying third overnight, also denting his hopes with a 74 to sit on five-under.
“I played well again,” said Wright, bidding to go one better in the Tartan Tour’s flagship event after losing in a play-off to Chris Doak three years ago.
“My swing didn’t feel great on Monday but I went and did some work on the range last night and it felt good again when I came out this morning.”
The Edinburgh-based Welshman produced a flawless effort containing four birdies and an eagle, which came at the last.
“I’m just sticking to my gameplan, trying to play sensible golf and taking one shot at a time,” he added.
Hutcheon enjoyed another hot day with the putter as he followed five birdies in his opening 17 holes by also closing with an eagle.
“It was 24 putts yesterday and I might have beaten that today, which is ridiculous,” he said.
“I’ve got a new putter that I picked up at the start of this year and I’m undoubtedly putting the best I have in my life.”
He admitted Wright will be hard to catch but added: “At least my last two rounds have given me a chance to try to put some pressure on him.”
McCreadie said: “Gareth played phenomenal today and then finished it off nicely as well, but I’m still in the mix.”