Padraig Harrington will take a four stroke lead into tomorrow's final round of the Ladbrokes.com Irish PGA Championship.

Still not happy with his game ahead of his bid for a hat-trick of Open wins at Turnberry next week, he carded a 2-over par 73 in difficult conditions at the European Club to top the leaderboard on 2-under par.

His nearest rival is Royal County Down's Simon Thornton who also shot a two over par 73 with Gavin Lunny of Naas and Banbridge's Richard Kilpatrick six strokes behind on 4-over.

Dundalk's Leslie Walker was forced to withdraw after just 10 holes with a wrist injury when he was Harrington's nearest rival at the time, just 3 strokes behind.

Ladbrokes.com PGA Irish Championship at The European Club

Third Round Scores (Par 213):

211 – P Harrington (Unattached) 68,70,73.

215 – S Thornton (Unattached) 75,67,73;

217 – G Lunny (Naas) 70,73,74; R Kilpatrick (Banbridge) 70,70,77;

218 – B McElhinney (Team Ireland) 70,76,72; J Kelly (St Margaret’s) 75,71,72; G Robinson (St Helen’s Bay) 70,74,74;

219 – S McMonagle (Unattached) 69,75,75;

220 – B McGovern (Headfort) 72,71,77;

222 – D O’Sullivan (Club La Playa) 75,76,71; M Staunton ( www.foreireland.com) 76,73,73;

224 – M Collins ( www.foreireland.com) 733,78,73; P O’Rourke (Green 18) 71,76,77; T Rice (Unattached) 70,76,78;

225 – C McNamara (Unattached) 75,78,72;

226 – W O’Callaghan (www.wayneocallaghangolf.com) 76,72,78; D Mooney (Unattached) 70,77,79;

227 – J Bolger (Kilkenny) 76,74,77; I Kerr (Bunclody) 75,74,78;

228 – M Allan (Pure Golf) 80,75,73; D Gleeson (McGuirk’s Golf) 77,74,77;

229 – G Cullen (Beaverstown) 78,76,75; S Fitzpatrick (Enniscorthy) 80,73,76; J Dignam (Slade Valley) 77,76,77;

230 – T Mulally (Moyvalley) 74,76,80;

231 – J Scullion (Royal Co Down) 76,79,76; J Dwyer (Ashbourne) 77,77,77; D Mortimer ( www.foreireland.com) 74,80,77; C Mallon (Narin & Portnoo) 76,75,80;

232 – B Trainor (Unattached) 74,81,77; P Walton (Unattached) 79,75,78; E Tracey (Ballina) 73,79,80; D Higgins (Waterville) 76,76,80; T Higgins ( www.foreireland.com) 75,76,81;

233 – C Carroll (Bray) 80,75,78; D Ryan (Cahir Pk) 77,78,78; D McNamara (Portmarnock) 78,73,82;

235 – S Young (Foyle) 75,80,80; K McGrath (Birr Golf Shop & DR) 79,76,80; M McTernan (Co Sligo) 76,75,84; R Giles (Greenore) 76,74,85;

236 – E Brady (Clontarf) 7,75,84;

237 – F Howley (Carton House) 80,75,82;

238 – N Howley (Balbriggan) 76,79,83;

239 – M Mulryan (Athenry) 76,78,85; L Bowler (Wexford) 76,76,87;

245 – M Sludds (Unattached) 81,73,91;

Rtd – D McWilliams (Unattached) 74,81,(inj); P Martin (Riverside Academy) 71,79, (inj); L Walker (Dundalk) 67,72, (inj).