Nick Dougherty takes two shot lead into final day

Britain's Nick Dougherty is on the brink of his second European Tour victory of the year after regaining the lead in the Irish Open third round on Saturday.

Joint leader after the first day, the 22-year-old Englishman fired a five-under-par 67 to finish at nine-under 207.

Dougherty, who believes he is in a better position than when he won his maiden European Tour title at the Singapore Masters in January, will take a two-stroke lead into Sunday's final round.

His compatriots David Howell, who carded a 69, and tour rookie Oliver Wilson, whose course record 66 was inspired by two spectacular back-nine eagle-twos, shared second place.

Overnight leader Stephen Dodd, after a 72, was a further two strokes back in a tie for fourth with South African Andrew McLardy (68) and Portugal's Jose Filipe Lima (69).

"I won't be concerned what the others are doing, I'm just going to go out and try to play like I did on the last day in Singapore," said Dougherty, who forged ahead of the chasing pack with three birdies in the last six holes.

"It helps that I know I can win. I was in a tougher position there (in Singapore) because I hadn't won before."

Wilson charged into contention by holing his nine-iron approach from 139 yards for eagle on the 11th and then driving the green at the par-four 13th to set up eagle number two.

He finished off by holing a four-foot putt at the last to equal the course record of 66 set earlier by South African Titch Moore.

"I was just plodding along when I holed out on the 11th from absolutely nowhere and that got me going," said the 2003 Walker Cup player.

The ambitious 24-year-old is looking to improve on his career-best tie for seventh place at the New Zealand Open in February.

"It's tough," he said. "I've got a little more at stake than some players out there, they've been there plenty of times and won a lot and I'm trying to get to that stage."

Wilson won a $50,000 Jaguar car for being nearest the pin at the 18th in the final round of last week's British Masters.

Tournament favourite Padraig Harrington birdied four of the last six holes for a 68 to finish six strokes off the lead.

Despite almost having to pull out of the tournament on Tuesday with perennial neck problems, the Irishman has a chance of becoming the first home winner of the event since John O'Leary in 1982.

Colin Montgomerie's bid for a U.S. Open place may now rest on his performance next week in the BMW Championship at Wentworth after the Carton House course designer plummeted down the field with a 75 to lie 12 strokes off the lead.

Montgomerie, 54th in the world rankings, needs to be back in the world's top 50 by the end of next week's tournament to avoid going to U.S. Open qualifying at Walton Heath in England on June 6.

The seven-times European number one, who also missed last year's U.S. Open and this season's U.S. Masters, said he was not too bothered by his precarious position for the second major of the year, being played at Pinehurst, North Carolina next month.

"No problem. I missed it (the U.S. Open) last year and might miss it this year. Big deal," he said.

Of his third-round 75, he added: "Crap, generally very bad. I've gone from 17th to 49th place, do you expect me to be happy."

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