Monday 27 July 2015 10:54, UK
Home favourite David Hearn fired a four-under 68 take a two-shot lead in to the final round of the RBC Canadian Open.
The world No 128, looking to become the first Canadian to win their national Open in 51 years, posted four birdies in breezy conditions to pull clear of closest challengers Bubba Watson and Jason Day.
Beginning three shots off the pace in a tie for third, Hearn followed up an early 12-foot gain at the second with back-to-back birdies at the seventh and eighth to quick pull clear at the top of the leaderboard.
The Canadian extended his advantage by holing another long putt at the short 15th and added a fifth from close range at the next, before posting a first blemish of the round after finding the bunker at the 17th.
A two-putt par at the last leaves him 15-under for the week, while Michael Putnam and Brooks Koepka are three strokes adrift and in a tie for fourth thanks to matching 68s.
Hearn said: "This is something you dream of. I feel like I'm ready to step up to the challenge. Hopefully, I can make some birdies and David can beat Goliath."
A great recovery saw Day bounce back from being three over for the round through 11 to birdie six of his final seven holes, while Watson closed a four-under 68.
Jim Furyk finished with a hat-trick of birdies to also post 68, with Johnson Wagner and Colombia’s Camilo Villegas alongside him on 11 under after posting an eagle three at the last.
Despite following up a three-putt double-bogey with a further dropped shot early in his round, Emiliano Grillo picked up four strokes over the back nine to join the group tied for sixth.
Overnight leader Chad Campbell slipped up at the third and dropped further back when he found the hazard at the 11th and ran up a triple-bogey seven, closing a three-over 75 by missing a birdie chance at the last.
A lowest round of the day 66 from Ollie Schniederjans, making his professional debut after his strong showing at last week’s 144th Open, keeps the 22-year-old in contention at 10 under.
Watch the final round of the RBC Canadian live on Sunday from 7pm on Sky Sports 4 – your home of golf
