His biggest challenge came from England’s Lee Slattery, who had reached 10 under after 15 holes.

Ross McGowan and John Bickerton were on nine and eight-under respectively with each still having a few holes to play.

Overnight leader Omar Sandys had a difficult round which started with a double bogey, before he managed to steady the ship and remain at two over through 15.

Earlier on, it was a young Dutchman Joost Luiten who shot an eight under-par round of 64, by far the round of the day, if not the tournament.

His bogey-free effort included six birdies along with a stunning hole-in-one at the 192-yard par three 12th.

The 21-year-old from Rotterdam had struggled through the opening two rounds, shooting a 75 and 71 to just about survive the cut.

But his impressive round left him in fifth place on six-under for the tournament.

And his reward for the eagle on the 12th is a brand new TT Roadster from sponsors Audi.

“We didn’t realise there was a prize,” he said. “Not at the first moment, until they said it and then we saw on the sign behind us.

“I hit a seven iron. The first two days was also a seven iron and the wind was about the same – I just hit it. It landed on the green perfectly and just rolled in the hole.

“You know you want to hit it on the right side of the green and it will roll down to the pin and that’s what I did. Just landed on the slope and rolled down and went in.”

England’s Oliver Wilson also recorded a hole-in-one, but his came at the par three 16th, to win 190 cases of Terra Del Capo wine.