Alex Noren, the Swede and second round leader of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, leads after the third round following a four-under 68 at Castle Stuart Golf Links in Inverness. At 12 under, he leads Matteo Manassero and Tyrrell Hatton by two strokes.
Noren has won four European Tour events in his career, all of which he has held the outright lead going into the final round. He will be sleeping on the lead yet again at Castle Stuart, looking to keep that streak going.
Manassero had a chance to tie Noren on the 18th hole at the time, but he could not connect on a short birdie putt. At 10-under, he and Hatton are tied for second and two strokes back of Noren.
Justin Walters, the 35-year-old South African seeking his first European Tour victory, shot a bogeyfree seven-under 65, the best score of the day. He and Danny Lee, who would have been defending his title at the Greenbrier Classic this week, are tied for fourth and three strokes off the lead.
Graeme McDowell, winner of the 2008 Scottish Open, shot a three-under 69 to move to eight under through 54 holes. He is tied with Andy Sullivan, and four strokes off the lead.
Henrik Stenson, winner of the 2016 BMW International Open, shot a six-under 66, moving 33 spots up the leaderboard. At five under for the tournament, he is tied for 16th and seven strokes off the lead.
Patrick Reed and Branden Grace are tied for 23rd at four under, while Phil Mickelson remains well out of contention at just one under.
