Mind the gap

James Freeman is on course to claim his first ever Titleist and FootJoy PGA Professional Championship title after establishing a three-shot lead in an action-packed third round on the hottest day of the year at Little Aston.

The sweltering heat failed to deter Freeman as the Retford Golf Club professional recorded four birdies on the final eight holes to post a four-under-par score of 68.

That took him to 14-under-par for the tournament and, after finishing runner-up in the English PGA Championship at Saunton last month, the 36-year-old served early notice of his intentions to improve on that at the West Midlands venue.

An eagle at the par-five third got his round off to a fine start and he recovered from back-to-back bogeys either side of the turn to finish strongly in his quest for the historic trophy and £10,000 first prize.

All of which left defending champion Paul O’Hara and Jordan Godwin (above) three shots adrift after both experienced contrasting rounds.

Godwin looked like an outside contender at the start of play having posted opening rounds of 70 and 69 to trail Freeman, the overnight leader by five shots.

But he put himself in contention with a six-under-par bogey-free round of 66, which included three successive birdies at the start of the back nine. 

By contrast, it was a case of déjà vu for O’Hara who heads into the fourth and final round pondering what might have been.

Just as he did in round two, the Scot signed off with a bogey at the last and a big opportunity to trim Freeman’s lead to just two shots was lost.

Elsewhere, James Whatley was another star performer with a bogey-free round of 67 that elevated him to fourth spot alongside Andrew Willey, Michsel Ramsden and 2017 PGA Cup winner Greig Hutcheon on 10-under-par.

Leading scores James Freeman (Retford Golf Club) -14; Paul O’Hara (North Lanarkshire Leisure Limited), Jordan Godwin (Barnehurst Golf Club) -11; Michael Ramsden (Renishaw Park Golf Club), Andrew Willey (Oakmere Park Golf Club), Greig Hutcheon (Paul Laurie Golf Centre), James Whatley (Morley Hayes Golf) -10; Jason Levermore (Little Channels Golf Centre) -9.

For a full list of results from the third round of the Titleist and FootJoy PGA Professional Championship click here.