Tunnicliff's lead cut to three shots

Miles Tunnicliff stayed ahead in the Diageo Championship for a second day, taking a three-stroke lead into Sunday's final round.

Two years after winning his maiden title, which came after 12 visits to tour qualifying school, the 35-year-old Briton was looking for his second victory after a level-par 72, for a nine-under-par 207, was good enough to keep the field at bay.

Anders Hansen, though, was aiming to be the second successive Dane to lift the Scottish title after shooting the week's best score, a 64, which was only a stroke off the PGA Centenary course record.

Hansen shared second place with Spain's Santiago Luna and Australian left-hander Nick O'Hern.

Last year's winner from Denmark, Soren Kjeldsen, still has a chance of back-to-back Gleneagles titles after moving up to fifth place, a further stroke back, with two more Britons, Gary Evans and Russell Claydon.

Tunnicliff's homecoming nine was as chequered as his career as he picked up four birdies but dropped three shots.

The Briton has slumped to 251st in the world rankings since his surprise win in the 2002 Great North Open, when he was playing on the Challenge Tour.

"I don't think I'll be such a surprise if I do it this time because I've been in good positions a few times since," said Tunnicliff. "When I won two years ago I wasn't even on the full tour.

"If I can win a second time it will give me the confidence in myself to think I can go and win more," said Tunnicliff, adding that he had refused to look at the leaderboards on his way round.

"I didn't look at the boards all day and I don't think I will tomorrow, just try and play my own game."

O'Hern, with a 70, kept alive his bid to earn enough money to take one of the British Open mini order of merit places for Royal Troon after missing international pre-qualifying in January with a knee injury.

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