Tim Clark & Maarten Lafeber share lead

Overnight leader Maarten Lafeber held off the challenge of some of the European Tour's biggest names before being caught by South Africa's Tim Clark in the Scottish Open third round on Saturday.

Dutchman Lafeber, who would book a place at next week's British Open by finishing as the highest non-exempt player at Loch Lomond, carded a three-under-par 68 on a third successive day of near-perfect scoring conditions.

The 30-year-old from Eindhoven, a stroke ahead of the field after a second-round 63, finished at 15-under 198, level with Clark, who holed a 25-foot birdie putt at the par-three 17th on his way to a 65.

World number three Ernie Els and British Ryder Cup players Darren Clarke and Colin Montgomerie made early assaults on the leaderboard before slipping back on the more difficult second nine.

"I felt really comfortable out there," said Lafeber, whose only European Tour victory came at the 2003 Dutch Open.

"I was trying to play my own game, to take it shot by shot, and it worked out quite well.

"That was the goal, to be in the lead after three rounds and to give myself a chance tomorrow."

Lafeber briefly moved three strokes clear after eagling the par-five third and making birdie at the fourth but he stumbled with a bogey at the par-three eighth -- his only blemish of the day.

Clark, who plays most of his golf on the U.S. PGA Tour, moved into contention for his third European Tour title with an eagle at the third, five birdies and a drop at the 15th, where he found rough off the tee.

"This is my fourth trip here in a row and I always seem to enjoy myself here," said the 29-year-old.

"I got off to a good start again today, and that's key as the front nine allows you to attack."

Big-hitting Argentine Angel Cabrera birdied the last for a 68 to share third place at 14 under with Britain's Alastair Forsyth, who picked up shots at two of the last four holes for a 67.

A further two strokes back in a three-way share of fifth were Northern Irishman Clarke (69), Australia's Adam Scott (64) and Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee (66).

World number seven Scott, back at Loch Lomond after a two-year absence, produced the best round of the day after reeling off eight birdies and a solitary bogey on 14.

"I am very happy with how I played," said the 24-year-old from Adelaide. "But I had to shoot at least 64 to have a chance."

Seven-times European number one Montgomerie returned a 66 to tie for 11th at 10 under but was left to rue his poor putting.

Level with Montgomerie was three-times major winner Els, who got to 12 under before pulling his tee shot into water at the last on his way to a double-bogey six and a 67.

"I missed a lot of putts out there," said a disgruntled Els, bidding this week for an unprecedented third Scottish Open title.

"The whole week I haven't made a putt longer than 10 feet. After a while, it gets to you."

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