Cormac Sharvin

He’s five-under par for the championship at Notts. Golf Club – with a chasing pack breathing down his neck. Three players are on four-under, including Yorkshire’s Jonathan Thomson who also made a big move with a score of six-under 66, which included five consecutive birdies. Just behind, on three-under, are four more players and a further four are grouped on two-under.

Sharvin’s round began with a birdie on the first and ended with a great par save on the last, when he got up and down from 80 yards, to keep it bogey free.

“I’ve been playing nicely, but not getting the most out of my rounds so I knew there was a low one in there,” said Sharvin. “This was one of the best rounds of golf I have played tee-to-green and it could have been a really low one.

“But I started the day five behind so I’m happy to have put myself in contention, I’ve been in contention a few times this year and it’s a nice place to be,” added Sharvin, who has had a string of high finishes this season, including a share of second place in the Lytham Trophy.

The best round of the championship so far was Jonathan Thomson’s 66. But there was little sign of the spectacular scoring to come when he took a double bogey on the second.

Then he was joined by his caddy, fellow Lindrick member Joe Dean, who had been delayed in traffic, and they got to grips with the greens. “We started reading some putts and I had five birdies on the bounce. I kept the momentum going through the round and although I missed a couple from hole-able range, I can’t complain. It was exciting stuff,” he said.

“This is what we train for, although you can never train under that pressure. It’s a great feeling to have done it and to be in this position. Tomorrow is another day, but I’m in a good frame of mind and my golf game is in good shape so I’ll go out there and stay patient.”

Thomson shares second place with Scotland’s Ewen Ferguson and Ben Taylor (Walton Heath), who led for the first two rounds. Today, Taylor got to six-under after eight holes, but dropped away with a double bogey on 13, where he lost a ball, and a bogey on 14. He fought straight back with birdies on the difficult 15th and the 17th to again share the lead, but then bogeyed the 18th for a one-over 73.

“I didn’t play badly but I did have a really bad stretch,” said Taylor, adding: “I’m still in a good position for tomorrow and right where I need to be.”

Also well in contention are the group on three under which includes double European champion Ashley Chesters (Hawkstone Park), who scored 69 today. He shares fifth place with Jack Singh Brar (Remedy Oak), Ireland’s Jack Hume and Scotland’s Connor Syme.

Among the players on two-under are Nottinghamshire’s Henry Alls (Radcliffe on Trent) and Taylor Carter (Rochford Hundred) who chipped in for an eagle on the third and holed a bunker shot on the fourth for birdie, en route to a score of 69.

Tomorrow’s last round starts at 7.30am with the final pair of Sharvin and Thomson teeing off at 11.38am. Spectators are very welcome.