Bangor golfer Jonathan Caldwell will start his final round six shots behind leaders Grant Forrest and Calum Hill at the Hero Open at St Andrew's.
Caldwell posted a second consecutive round of 70, including three birdies and a bogey, to set on 12-under par heading into the final day.
Forrest, who produced a stunning 62, and Hill sit on 18-under par as hopes rise of a first home winner in Scotland on the European Tour for the first time since Paul Lawrie won the 2012 Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.
Niall Kearney hit one of the lowest round of the days and he sits inside the top 20 on 10-under par.
The Dubliner’s round of 66 included eight birdies in all, with a bogey at the par-four second proving to be the only blemish on his scorecard.
Gavin Moynihan finds himself just outside the top 50 as a round of 70 moved him to three-under par for the tournament.
At the top, Forrest began the day seven shots behind overnight leader Lucas Bjerregaard and his chances of challenging at the top of the leaderboard looked remote following an opening bogey.
But the 28-year-old responded with a brilliant birdie burst around the turn, which he continued on the back nine, to match the course record of 62 - which was set by Denmark's Bjerregaard in the second round - to set the clubhouse lead.
Hill started strongly and held a two-shot advantage early in the round but Forrest's birdie run saw him trail his countryman by two strokes with four holes to play after bogeys at the 10th and 14th.
Hill, who was born less than 25 miles from the course, regained his composure with birdies at the 15th and 18th to join his compatriot at the summit, with fellow Scot David Law in close proximity at 16-under par.
"It's great. They've (Law and Hill) played really solid all year, Dave especially recently as well. To play at St Andrews, the home of golf, and to have three Scots up there is great," Forrest said.
"Today I changed my putting grip and made pretty much everything and I think Lucas' (Bjerregaard) putter has rubbed off me a little bit. I just hit lots of really good putts today. It's tough making putts in that wind, you need a little bit of luck and I got that so I'm delighted.
"I've been feeling confident in my game so I'm just trying to trust that, and trust that the good scores are going to come along."
Spaniard Santiago Tarrio is the Scottish duo's closest rival at 17 under, with Law and two-time European Tour winner Bjerregaard one shot further back.
