Kelly closes in on Scottish PGA Championship title

Chris Kelly is on course for a third M&H Logistics Scottish PGA Championship victory after stretching his lead to five shots heading into the final round at Gleneagles.

The 40-year-old, who won the Tartan Tour's flagship event for the first time in 2003 before reclaiming the title in 2015, backed up his brilliant opening 63 on the King's Course with an equally impressive 67.

On 10-under-par, he holds a healthy cushion over this season's Order of Merit leader, Paul O'Hara, in an event that has been reduced to 54 holes due to weather delays earlier in the week.

"Astounded," said Kelly of his position, having cut back his playing schedule this year after taking up a post under Ian Collins at Stirling back in February.

On a day when a wind switch ensured another stiff test at the Perthshire venue, Kelly eagled the sixth after hitting a 6-iron to three feet before a lost ball saw that good work done straight away through a double-bogey 6 at the next.

The former Tartan Tour No 1 responded to that setback exactly the way he wanted with a birdie-2 at the eighth before coming home in 33, two-under.

"Where you ordinarily make your score on this course - the back nine - was playing tough today," reported Kelly. "As an example, I couldn't get over the saddle with my drive at the last and I can't remember the last time that was the case."

As well as the leader has played so far, he reckons he still has his work cut out to secure a title hat-trick - and not just because O'Hara is the man leading the chase.

"I'm not sure what has happened over the last two days, but hey ho," commented Kelly. "It may all still come crashing down because a five-shot lead can be lost in the first five holes here.

"I've played well and putted really well, so I'll just go out tomorrow and see what happens."

O'Hara, who was pipped in a play-off for the title by Gareth Wright 12 months ago, has negotiated the opening 36 holes with just one bogey.

"My driving has become a big strength since I started working with David Orr and I've only been in the thick stuff once over the last two days," said the North Lanarkshire Leisure-attached player.

"It is funny because I've been looking at some of the places I'd found in the past and thought, 'jeezo, I must have been rubbish then'."

Helped by winning the Northern Open at Lossiemouth earlier in the year, O'Hara leads the Order of Merit title race from Greig Hutcheon and Gareth Wright.

"I've not won it yet, though," pointed out O'Hara. "My place in the Play-Offs is secured and that's good, but there's still a lot to play for tomorrow."

Newmachar's Greg McBain (68-69) sits third on three-under, two shots ahead of Hutcheon (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre Inchmarlo), Neil Fenwick (Dunbar), Cameron Marr (Musselburgh) abd Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs Golf Range).

Defending champion Wright (West Linton) sits 15 shots behind Kelly in joint-19th after rounds of 75 and 70.

Follow live scoring from the M&H Logistics Scottish PGA Championship by clicking here.