Richie Ramsay described playing in the 2021 abrdn Scottish Open as "a major" for home players and is delighted to lead a strong Scotland contingent during the final round in North Berwick.
The 38-year-old is attached to The Renaissance Club and he certainly used his inside knowledge on Saturday as he carded a flawless 65 to climb up to ten under par, but he was not the Scot in contention.
David Law followed successive 67s with a two under par 69 to join Ramsay in a tie for eighth, four shots adrift of the leaders, while Scotland's highest ranked player Robert MacIntyre is one stroke further back.
The three time European Tour winner finished in a tie for fourth at last week's Dubai Duty Free Irish Open and with three places up for grabs at the 149th Open Championship for those not exempt, Ramsay could be changing his schedule next week with a similar display on Sunday.
"It's a very good day's work," he said. "I would have taken that this morning, no doubt. I thought there were some really good pins out there.
"I played very steady. Just felt like I had really good control. After struggling yesterday, I just spent a little bit of time on the range to work on the strike and it paid off massively today.
"It's a major for us. So it's like I've always said, like the Dunhill (Links Championship) or The Scottish Open, they are career-defining wins because it's not often or not many people have managed to circle them off.
"I know Paul (Lawrie) has won the Dunhill and Monty (Colin Montgomerie) has won the Dunhill but The Scottish Open title is special. It's one I went to Gleneagles watching it way back in the early 90s when it was there.
"So to go to a tournament and watch it as a little kid and come to a tournament and be able to compete is a pretty cool feeling."
Law had World Number Three Justin Thomas and Ian Poulter for company in his third round but the 30-year-old Scot was the lowest scorer of the trio thanks to four birdies and two bogeys in his 69, one better than his high profile playing partners.
MacIntyre started the third round on five under par and made birdies at the third, fifth, seventh and eighth before adding another at the tenth to get up to double figures.
He continued to create chances for gains but could not hole them before bogeying the 14th after lipping out his par putt, which was compounded at the par five 16th when he three putted after getting on in two.
The World Number 51 is five off the lead and he was frustrated with how his putting let him down and believes he is out of contention on Sunday.
"I’m raging right now, to be honest with you. It was a disappointing finish," MacIntyre said.
"I was right back in the golf tournament and now I feel as if I’m right back out of it just with a couple of putts. But that’s golf, isn’t it.
"I don’t know what it is. I’m working at it and feel good over it and then I hit it and it gets half way and it’s missing. Just need to get back and work at it.
"My problem right now is I hit it too hard. It just doesn’t feel smooth. I used to be silky smooth with the sort ones dropping them in dead weight. Just now it just isn’t perfect.
"I can get back into it. But they are stretching away from me. I was trying to get to 12 (under) and it felt easy to do that. I hadn’t missed a shot and I was driving it a lot better.
"I holed a few nice putts early on and I was keeping myself in it by not missing the short ones. But I just seemed to do it at the wrong time just now."
