Paul O’Hara took flight with a late eagle as he moved to the top of the leaderboard on day three of the Ramsdens Currency Scottish PGA Championship at Scotscraig.
The 38-year-old, who won the national title back in 2019, made a telling three on the par-five 16th en route to a five-under 66 and a 16-under aggregate.
That gave O’Hara a slender, one-shot advantage over the halfway leader Scott Henderson heading into the closing round.
In a nip-and-tuck tussle at the sharp end, there was never much between the sparring duo as they traded blows.
O’Hara made a decisive move on the run-in, however, to assume command. With 187-yards to the pin on the downwind 16th, the former Tartan Tour No 1 flighted a wonderfully executed 8-iron into five-feet and made no mistake with the eagle putt.
O’Hara had birdie chances at 17 and 18 but the Hamilton pro, who has been a dominant force on the domestic scene in recent years, was more than happy with his position at the summit.
“It was a ding dong battle with Scott and I really enjoyed it,” said O’Hara, who has also finished second in the Scottish PGA Championship a total of four times down the years.
“I expect it’ll much the same on the final day. Scott has been playing some great stuff this week so trying to keep close to him was tough.
“The eagle on 16 was a boost and I probably should’ve picked up one or two more shots coming in. The putts needed a bit of extra pace, but I was focussed too much on the line and left them short.”
As well as competing on the Tartan Tour, O’Hara has contested the British Masters and the Nexo Championship on the DP World Tour in recent weeks as a reward for winning The PGA Play-offs earlier this season.
The addition of another baby to the O’Hara household in that period as added to his hectic schedule.
“It’s been a roller coaster over the past few weeks with events and family,” he added. “I think I’ve spent more time with The PGA staff than I have my new child. A win here would be a nice way to cap off a busy spell.”
Henderson, who led by a shot overnight, was bogey-free in a 68 as the 55-year-old Aberdonian kept himself in the hunt for a title that has eluded him during a long professional career.
Henderson, the DP World Tour rookie of the year back in 1997, was left to reflect on the putts that got away on a third day punctuated by sunshine and showers.
“The putts that were going in during round two just didn’t go in today,” said Henderson, who was runner-up in the Scottish PGA Championship in 2003 and let a six-shot final round lead slip the previous year.
“But I never put myself in any bother and I’m still in there. Against Paul, it’ll be tough. He could easily go out and post something similar to today so I’ll need to be six-under or something to beat him.”
The chasing pack have work to do to catch the leading duo. Stuart Easton, the first round leader, is third after a 69 for 10-under but the Irvine pro is five shots behind Henderson in second.
Ross Munro, Stephen Gray and Craig Lee share fourth on nine-under while the former Amateur champion, Bradley Neil, barged his way into the top-10 on seven-under after a 64.
Neil produced a late salvo and eagled the 16th before reeling off birdies at 17 and 18 to surge over the line.
Ryan Johnston matched that best-of-the-day 64 as he moved up to the fringes of the top-10 on five-under.
To follow the live scoring from the final day at Scotscraig, click here.
