Alex Noren increased his lead in very wet conditions to two shots heading in to the final round of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Castle Stuart.
The 33-year-old Swede carded a four-under-par 68 to propel himself two-shots clear of Matteo Manassero and Tyrell Hatton.
It was a day of two-halves, and although the leaders decidedly got the worst hand when it came to the weather conditions, the four-time European Tour winner displayed a short-game masterclass to top a very accomplished field.
"I am really satisfied because it was one of the toughest days this year," Noren said.
"I was really happy with the short game, I had a good up and down on the the last and it feels really good to have a two shot lead. It's a tough leaderboard."
The competitive leaderboard includes several multiple European Tour winners, but it was Hatton who made the first significant move during Saturday's round.
The Englishman posted birdie-eagle-birdie on his first three holes to assume his position as joint-leader with Noren, and finished with back-to-back birdies to put himself in the final group for the second time this year.
Hatton, who is also trying to qualify for the Open next week, is hoping to draw from his experience of being in the final group of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in order to handle the pressure.
"It was a case of grinding it out and I had a good a finish. My swing felt good all day," Hatton said.
"I had experience of Wentworth so that was a big thing being in the final group and its just a case of trying to stay patient and focus on my own game."
Noren and Hatton were momentarily surpassed by Eddie Pepperell early in round three as he picked up a pair of birdies on the first two-holes, but his lead wasn't to last. Pepperell's shank on the seventh hole led to the first of three double bogeys as he carded the worst score of the day, a four-over-par round of 76.
The biggest threat of the day came from 23-year-old Manassero, who became the youngest European Tour winner in history when he won in 2010. He commanded the top of the leaderboard for most of the front nine, but as the worst of the wet weather moved in, the young Italian dropped a shot on the 10th while Noren tied for the lead with a birdie on the ninth.
Manassero yet again moved out in front with three birdies in a row between 14 and 16, but a bogey on the 17th and a very close missed birdie chance on the 18th saw him ultimately end up two off the pace.
"I was really happy with the way I handled myself on the golf course," Manassero said. "It was a really tough day."
Both Brandon Grace and Danny Lee flirted with the top of the leaderboard during their rounds but neither were able to hold on through the tough conditions. Despite the worst of the weather, late charges from Justin Walters and Graeme McDowell set both players in good position ahead of the final day.
Walters, who has missed eight cuts in his last nine starts, is hoping to secure one of the four Open qualifying spots available at the Scottish Open. After shooting a blemish-free seven-under-par round of 65, he had the equal best round of the day with Romain Wattel, and occupies the third qualifying spot at nine-under-par for the tournament.
Andy Sullivan who matched Noren's four-under-par 68 and at eight-under-par for the tournament is very much in contention. With two eagles, two birdies and two bogeys, Sullivan had one of the more up-and-down rounds of the day, but thinks his game is getting back to his best.
"I feel like it's getting close to getting back to my best. I felt like I've been hitting a lot of good shots. If I keep doing what I'm doing I'm going to be there or there abouts tomorrow.
As it stands, Walters, Manassero, Hatton and Wattel would qualify for next week at Royal Troon.
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