Golf:As many jockeyed for position on the third day of the 100th staging of the Ladbrokes.com Irish PGA Championship, it was David Mortimer who grabbed the outright lead heading into tomorrow's final round at Seapoint Golf Club.
Mortimer enjoyed a flawless afternoon by carding a three under 69 which included three birdies, two of which were made at the 16th and 18th. The
www.foreireland.com professional leads on seven under, one shot ahead of favourite Damien McGrane and first round leader, Damian Mooney.
McGrane took a week off from his main duties on the European Tour in a bid to try and win his first PGA title. The Meath pro also put his frustrations from yesterday behind him and matched Mortimer's 69, while Mooney's 71 gave him a share of second on six under.
Neil Manchip, GUI National Coach and also coach to Shane Lowry, was fourth on his own after the Edinburgh native shot 73 to be four under.
A chasing quartet of Eamonn Brady (67), John Kelly (67), Seamus Clinton (68) and Barrie Trainor (72) were gathered on four under and still close enough to mount a challenge in the final round. The rounds of Brady and Kelly were the low scores of the day.
Local favourite and Seapoint course designer Des Smyth still has an outside chance from his position of one under after today's 71. Lowry was a shot further back after he signed for a disappointing 74.
The Clara pro will need something very special if he is to claim the €3,500 winner's cheque tomorrow. That said he knew how to produce late heroics when winning the Irish Open the other side of the fence at Baltray in 2009.