The 23-year-old Scott produced five birdies in his round of 67 to snatch the lead on a day of fluctuating fortunes, before he was joined on eight under par by Lafeber when the 28-year-old birdied the last for a 69. For Scott, this week marks an overdue return to form, in particular on the greens, where he is yet to three-putt.
“The last couple of months I’ve not felt like I could win,” said Scott, who is coached by Butch Harmon. “I’ve been going to tournaments hoping to get it round, but the last three days have shown me that if I keep playing like I this, it will take a great round to beat me.”
England’s Nick Dougherty is one of four players on six under. He had taken a three-shot advantage into the third round, but, after a birdie at the first, he dropped shots on each of the next three holes to see his overnight lead vanish. A further bogey on the seventh worsened his plight, but the 21-year-old, who was diagnosed with glandular fever earlier this summer, picked up two shots before the turn to battle his way back up the leaderboard, as the former rookie of the year finished with a 74 to stay in touch.
Sweden’s Carl Pettersson led the home challenge with a course record 66. Pettersson, who usually plays on the US Tour, shot seven birdies to move to six under, where he is joined by another US tour regular Luke Donald, a teammate of Dougherty in the successful 2001 Walker Cup team who is making only his second appearance on the European tour. He shot a 71.
England’s Steve Webster makes up the group two behind the leaders.
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Final round, today, Sky Sports 1, midday