That meant the leaders were out on the course by 9am and the low scoring of the first two days – the cut had fallen at four under par – continued in the third round.

Dredge, who led by two going into the final round of the Deutsche Bank Championship in Hamburg on Sunday before fading to fifth, opened with a birdie on the first and also picked up shots on the fourth and fifth to extend his overnight lead to two shots.

However, Lane was also quickly among the birdies and his third of the day on the eighth reduced Dredge’s lead to one again, before both players took advantage of the par-five ninth to pick up another shot.

The hole was one of five which had been shortened due to the wet conditions, and the loss of 59 yards – from 556 to 497 – made the green easily reachable in two.

Dredge splashed out of a greenside bunker to three feet for his birdie, while Lane two-putted from long range.

The low-lying 10th hole was the most severely affected by the rain and had been reduced from 468 to 296 yards.

That allowed the players to try to drive the green and after coming up just short, Lane chipped to three feet for a birdie to join Dredge at the top of the leaderboard on 17 under par.

The leading duo were attempting to pull away from the chasing pack which was led by Sweden’s Pierre Fulke and Ireland’s Damien McGrane.

Fulke, who played on Europe’s victorious Ryder Cup team at the Belfry in 2002 but now spends more time on his course design business, had picked up four birdies but suffered a costly double bogey six on the third.

The most spectacular golf was coming from McGrane however, the 34-year-old from Meath racing to the turn in 30 with four birdies and an eagle.

World number seven Adam Scott was also not out of contention, the 2003 winner five-under for his round with two holes to play to lie five off the lead.