James Ruth delivered the round of the day on Saunton’s West course to go into the final 18-holes of the North Devon Links Festival sharing pole position with Great Britain and Ireland PGA Cup team-mate Matt Cort.
Ruth maintained the form that saw him make a successful defence of the English PGA Championship and win the PGA South West Order of Merit with an event to spare by posting a five-under par round of 66.
Having begun three shots shy of the lead after a three-under par negotiation of Royal North Devon on day one, Ruth’s round was bookended by a bogey at the first and 18th holes.
Normal service was resumed in between times, however, as the 38-year-old Devonian recorded seven birdies to finish level with Cort on eight-under.
Cort, who won the English PGA Championship in 2018 when it was staged on Saunton’s West course, showed his liking for the layout with his second successive round of four-under.
All of which has left the pair going into the final round on Saunton’s East course a shot clear of Wellingborough Golf Club’s Simon Lilly in the battle for the £1,600 winner’s cheque.
Lilly, who shared the lead with Martin Stimson and Michael Watson on six-under at the start of the day, posted a round of one-under and is a shot clear of Enmore Park’s David Dixon.
Stimson, who represents Glyn Abbey Golf Club, is a shot further back level with Newquay Golf Club’s Chris Gill on five-under.
Meanwhile, Cort and his trio of amateurs lead the Stableford format team event with 188 points, 17 clear of the field.
