Paul Dunne sank a nerve-jangling, downhill birdie putt on the final green to sit just four shots off the lead going into the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open.
The Greystones man posted his third consecutive under-par round in his first professional start on the PGA Tour with a one-under-par 71 on the South Course at Torrey Pines Golf Club.
Dunne endured a slow start with bogeys on the first and fourth hole but bounced back with birdies on the sixth and eighth holes to go out in level par.
Another bogey followed on the 11th before birdies on 13 and the aforementioned 18th sees Dunne sitting in a tie for 17th going into the final round.
Sunday’s finale will see the golfers out on the course in three-balls with an early start due to a local weather warning and perhaps the bad weather might suit the Irishman who would be no stranger to inclement conditions.
Shane Lowry shot a one-over-par 73 to sit on one under for the tournament and is currently in a tie for 40th place.
On Thursday he had finished birdie-birdie on the North Course to dip under par, carding a one-under 71 in his season opener. He continued in similar form starting off the back nine on Friday - with birdies on the 14th and 16th cancelled out by a bogey on the 13th. Birdies on the first and ninth then were similarly cancelled out by bogeys on the fourth and seventh for a second consecutive 71.
Scott Brown and KJ Choi lead the field on nine under par.
