First the 24-year-old from Mansfield sank a 139-yard nine iron on the 477-yard 11th, then he drove to within four feet of the flag at the 338-yard 13th and made that for another two.

Wilson went on to birdie the 14th, 15th and 18th and even with bogeys at the 12th and 17th he equalled the course record with a 66.

The Jaguar came for nearest-the-pin on the final hole of the British Masters last Sunday when he was only 33 inches away from an ace. And it came in handy.

“I drive my Mum’s Alfa Romeo, so I’m keeping it,” he said.

As for his stunning inward 31 today Wilson added: “I was just plodding my way round and then came those two shots. That little stretch gets you into a different gear and you just try to press on.

“I’ve got a little more at stake than some players, who have been there plenty of times and won a lot, but if I can go out and play well again you never know what happens.”

Dougherty, 23 next Tuesday, is chasing his second victory of the season and a 67 took him to nine under par.

Overnight leader Stephen Dodd could do no better than 72 and dropped back to fourth, but playing partner David Howell came back from an horrendous opening drive to score 69 and remain second.

Wilson’s burst came just as Colin Montgomerie was falling out of contention for victory on the course he designed.

The Scot managed only a 75 to drop to 49th on three over and said: “I drove the ball poorly and got what I deserved.”

Montgomerie knew it was also a blow to his chances of climbing into the world’s top 50 by the end of next week’s BMW Championship at Wentworth, which he needs to do to avoid having to qualify for next month’s US Open.

That prospect was met with indifference, however.

“I missed it last year and I might miss it again,” commented the 41-year-old, currently 54th in the standings. “Big deal – no problem.”

Montgomerie, who failed to make it into the Masters last month as well, has not been able to keep himself out of the headlines lately.

He handed over £24,000 to charity two weeks ago because of a controversial incident at the Indonesian Open in March, his replacing of the ball by a bunker coming under scrutiny and drawing a number of comments from other players.

Even the tour’s tournament committee, of which he is a member, expressed their “dissatisfaction” last week and the matter could still be raised at the players’ meeting at Wentworth on Wednesday along with the fifth disqualification of Miguel Angel Martin during last week’s event.

Earlier, a storming finish from Padraig Harrington – just as a storm hit - revived Padraig Harrington’s hopes of becoming the first home winner of the Irish Open since John O’Leary in 1982.

Harrington, joint runner-up a year ago and 2001, birdied four of the last six holes and now stands three under and in a tie for seventh.

“There’s a big, big desire to win this,” said the Dubliner, who had been doubtful on Tuesday because of a neck strain, following his 68 for a three-under total of 213.

“It isn’t a major, but me it’s the next tier. Something you want to have on your CV.”

Harrington was paired with Ryder Cup team-mate Darren Clarke, who has the same aim, of course, and the Ulsterman was only one shot further back after a 69.

“We couldn’t remember the last time we played a competitive round together and it was nice,” added world number nine Harrington.

“We had a good chat, but I can’t tell you the stories we were telling. Things that happen on tour, generally gossip.”

After they played the front nine exactly the same – eight pars and birdies at the long eighth – Clarke held the edge when he birdied the 10th and Harrington bogeyed it.

They both then birdied the 338-yard 13th and the balance shifted when Clarke bogeyed the next and Harrington birdied the 15th and 16th before both closed with birdie fours.

Jose Maria Olazabal, like Montgomerie trying to get into the US Open, also stands three under after a 68, but Paul McGinley’s hopes of being the home winner faded with a 74 for one under.