Ewen Ferguson put himself in pole position for a second DP World Tour victory of the season as he retained the lead after a round of 68 on day three of the 2022 ISPS Handa World Invitational presented by Aviv Clinics at Galgorm Castle Golf Club.
Winner of the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters in March, Ferguson again showed the battling qualities which had served him on day two where his level par round at the Massereene Golf Club followed a course record nine-under-par 61 on day one at Galgorm Castle.
This week's event in Northern Ireland is tri-sanctioned by the DP World Tour, Ladies European Tour and LPGA Tour, with separate male and female tournaments being played on the same two courses at the same time and for two equal prize funds of US$1.5million each.
Italian amateur Filippo Celli emerged from the pack to challenge Ferguson as an eagle on the fourth saw him claim the lead on 11 under before a double bogey on nine saw him drop back to four off the lead.
Ferguson went further ahead on 10 with a birdie but bogeys on 14 and 15 trimmed his advantage before a birdie on the last saw him sign for a 68 and a lead of three going into the final day.
American John Catlin had a round of 66 to move up to second, with a four-way tie for third on seven under involving Spaniard Borja Virto, Denmark's Marcus Helligkilde, Scotland's Connor Syme and England's Jack Senior.
Ferguson said: "It becomes a bit tough and you just need to try and grind it. I kind of accepted that and just tried to hit some good shots. My swing still feels good and I've got a nice rhythm and all that stuff."
On leading since the opening day, he added: "I've not really thought about it to be honest. I've just been kind of enjoying it for the last couple of days.
"I think I've got to the stage where it doesn't really matter until you're on the back nine on Sunday really but I'm still grateful to be in this position."
Ferguson revealed he had stayed in touch with coach Jamie Gough who is not in Northern Ireland.
Ferguson said: "I've been speaking to him quite a lot because in the Pro-Am and practice round I was feeling a little bit fatigued because I've been playing a lot of golf. I've just been back and forth with him trying to sort a few things out.
"I was on the phone to him last night and just a few little things we were trying to work on. I've just been thinking about that and trying to stay in a good place."
Birdie on 18 💪@EwboF will take a three shot lead going into tomorrow's final round.#WorldInvitational pic.twitter.com/3wvBiZe6Hq
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) August 13, 2022
American LPGA Tour rookie Amanda Doherty also led for a third day after a birdie on the last saw her one ahead of England's Georgia Hall and Peiyun Chien, of Chinese Taipei, who battled all day long.
Doherty's birdie on the final hole took her to 12 under and she said: "I think overall it was a good day. I got off to a bit of a rough start and I hit a few crazy shots today and I managed to come back from that.
"I hit great putts but didn't read them so it was nice to have one go in and it's nice to have a little momentum going into tomorrow. I'm excited, I'm a little bit nervous though. It's good going into tomorrow."
