Mark Loftus, who hasn't won a 72-hole event since he was an amateur in 2001, has put himself in pole position going into the final round of the Gleneagles Scottish PGA Championship.
In blustery conditions over the testing PGA Centenary course, the 6ft. 4in Cowglen player, who fully justifies his nickname 'Lofty', wiped out the overnight three-stroke lead of playing partner, David Orr, with a controlled one-under 72 for 215, while Orr, shackling himself right from the off with a double bogey and then a bogey at the third, could do no better than a 76 for 216.
Loftus ended the front nine in style, reducing the 564-yard hole to a drive, an eight iron to 25 feet and holed for an eagle.
Orr regained the lead at the shortish par-four 14th where Loftus overhit the green into a bunker, and failed to get up and down. Three holes later, at the par-3 179-yarder, it was Orr's turn to play a loose shot, his tee shot leaving him an awkward chip over a bunker. That attempt ran 10 feet below the hole, from which he missed his par putt.
Loftus played the 484-yard uphill 18th to perfection - on in two and two putts for a closing birdie, while Orr, bunkered in two, air-mailed the green, and did well to chip and putt for a par.
Said Loftus: "It was something of a nightmare out there. I reckon that was a three-club wind, and it made things pretty demanding."
Orr, who'd begun three ahead, added that he knew it would be a tough day. "I had to back off quite a few putts because of the wind. But we're right there - it should be some battle tomorrow."
In the high winds six players returned the best score of the day, a one-under 72. In addition to Loftus, those were David Patrick (Mortonhall), Sam Cairns (Westerwood), David Park (Wishaw), Gary McFarlane (Clober), and Murray Urquhart (Inverness).
Sunday's champion picks up £8,800 from a prize fund of £55,000.