Eddie Pepperell joined Alex Noren at the top of the leaderboard on a low-scoring third day of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open.
Castle Stuart Golf Links had provided a tough links test over the first two days with winds particularly strong on Thursday, but a reduced breeze with what wind there was largely helping the players produced a host of birdies and eagles on Saturday.
Pepperell had two of those birdies in his first four holes to join Noren at nine under, with the overnight leader picking up a shot on the second.
Fellow Englishman Tyrrell Hatton was four under after seven holes to sit a shot off the lead alongside Branden Grace, Danny Lee and Matteo Manassero.
Hatton was the first player to make a big move as he made a birdie-eagle-birdie start to join Noren at the top of the leaderboard.
Pepperell was playing in the penultimate group and he also got to eight under with a birdie on the first and when he followed it with a gain on the second, he was out in front on his own.
Playing partner Manassero also birdied the first two holes to join the group in second and Grace soon found himself there as he drove the green on the third and rolled in a 25-foot putt for eagle.
Neither of the final duo could take advantage of the first but they both birdied the second with Noren moving back into a share of the lead and Lee joining the group of four players just a shot behind.
Two-time Open Championship winner Padraig Harrington was then a further shot back after birdies on the third and fourth with Andy Sulllivan also two off the lead after a rollercoaster first eight holes.
The Englishman had eagles on the third and sixth with a birdie on the second but also two dropped shots on the fifth and seventh.
Romain Wattel was also at seven under and he had set the clubhouse target with a low round of the week 65 containing an eagle and five birdies.
Nicolas Colsaerts was also in the clubhouse at six under, with Ricardo Gouveia, Alejandro Cañizares, Jorge Campillo and Richard Bland out on course.
