Brandon Robinson-Thompson posted a sensational nine under par round of 62 to move four strokes clear heading into the final round of the Farmfoods Scottish Challenge supported by The R&A.
The Englishman carded ten birdies and a solitary bogey to reach 17 under par for the week, four shots ahead of Denmark’s Hamish Brown in second place.
Robinson-Thompson, who started the day one shot off the lead, raced clear of the field after carding six birdies on the front nine to make the turn in 29, and despite a bogey at the 12th, responded with further gains at the 14th, 16th, 17th, and 18th to take control on moving day at Newmachar Golf Club.
“I’m super pleased,” he said. “The wind was blowing, and I wouldn’t have expected the score I shot today standing on the first tee, but it’s golf and you never know.
“The first few holes give us some chances early and if you can convert there you get a bit of momentum and just try to keep it going.
“It was a little bit of luck out there honestly. Depending on when you hit, it could be two or three clubs different if you get a gust downwind, and you hit it 20 or 30 yards further than if the wind drops.”
The 31-year-old attributed his low scoring to an excellent day on the greens, and highlighted recent changes he has made to his putting technique as an important factor.
“You can’t shoot low without putting great, but today was very, very good,” he said.
“Usually when its gusty and windy like this, it’s difficult to putt. Maybe the wind died when I was on the greens, but they seemed to go in.
“There’s a comfort in how I feel and the way I’m going about my business. I started working with a new coach a couple of weeks ago and I’ve reignited my process and aimpoint technique on the greens.
“The process and the goal remain the same. Sometimes they go in, and today a lot of them went in. I’ll do the same thing tomorrow, and as always, I’ll have fun doing it.”
Norwegian Kristoffer Reitan posted a bogey-free 65 to climb into third place at ten under par, one shot ahead of South African Robin Williams, Northern Ireland’s Jonathan Caldwell and German Veltin Meyer in fourth.
Four players share seventh place at eight under par, including Northern Irishman Dermot McElroy, Finn Tapio Pulkkanen, Scotland’s Calum Fyfe, and Dane John Axelsen.
The final round of the Farmfoods Scottish Challenge supported by The R&A gets underway at 7:55 am local time, with Robinson-Thompson teeing it up alongside Brown and Reitan at 10:06 am.
