David Higgins chips to the seventh at El Saler. Picture: Eoin Clarke www.golffile.ieDavid Higgins might be joint top for scrambling and sand saves but he’s eight shots behind Scot Marc Warren with a round to go in the Spanish Open.

As Warren battled through the worst of the conditions to card a four under par 68 and a two-shot lead heading into the final round at El Saler, Higgins had a second successive double bogey seven at the fifth in a level par 72 at El Saler.

Those four shots have cost him dear but with 37 players outside the top four covered by just four shots, the 40-year old from Waterville can still pick up a big cheque.

With powerful winds gusting across the seaside course, Peter Lawrie also shot a 72 but moved up just one place to tied 42nd on one over as Shane Lowry hit just nine greens in regulation as he followed his second round 66 with a 74 to fall back to 48th on two over.

Warren’s fine display of links golf took the Glaswegian to eight under par with 18 holes to play in the 87th edition of the historic event, two clear of compatriot Craig Lee, and a further shot clear of the English pair of David Horsey and Paul Waring.

Shane Lowry wasn’t on his game in round three. Picture: Eoin Clarke www.golffile.ie“I’m very pleased with today’s work,” Warren said. “In wind I like the fact that you have to have so many different shots. On this course even in calm conditions you’d have to do that because of the shape of the holes and the way the greens are set, being so firm.

“You can’t just use the standard shot. There’s always something to the shot whether it be higher or lower, fade or draw. I managed to do that well today and I hopefully it continues tomorrow.

“Concentration is going to be fundamental tomorrow. I know how to win, and that will work in my favour.”

Halfway leader Uihlein, a former US Amateur Champion, started well with two birdies in his first three holes on Saturday before four dropped shots, including a pair from the 16th, saw the American slip back into a tie for fifth alongside Germany’s Max Kieffer, England’s David Howell, and France’s Raphael Jacquelin – all of whom will start the final round four shots back from leader Warren.

Gareth Maybin got off to a slow start with two bogeys in the first eight but followed birdies at the 10th and 12th with three bogeys in his last six for a 75 that saw him slip 19 places to joint 62nd on four over.

Spot the Shane Lowry fan.Picture: Eoin Clarke www.golffile.ie.Scores after round three

208 M Warren (Sco) 70 70 68,

210 C Lee (Sco) 69 71 70,

211 P Waring (Eng) 71 71 69, D Horsey (Eng) 71 74 66,

212 P Uihlein (USA) 70 68 74, R Jacquelin (Fra) 73 66 73, D Howell (Eng) 70 71 71, M Kieffer (Ger) 75 68 69,

213 F Aguilar (Chi) 68 71 74, M Carlsson (Swe) 70 75 68, E Pepperell (Eng) 70 70 73, E Kofstad (Nor) 71 72 70, D Drysdale (Sco) 73 72 68, G Bourdy (Fra) 72 73 68,

214 N Elvira (Esp) 71 72 71, M Madsen (Den) 68 72 74, R Karlberg (Swe) 72 67 75, K Ferrie (Eng) 72 73 69, P Casey (Eng) 72 70 72, E Grillo (Arg) 74 72 68, M Baldwin (Eng) 73 68 73, J Lagergren (Swe) 69 76 69,

215 J Quesne (Fra) 72 70 73, T Fleetwood (Eng) 72 69 74, E De La Riva (Esp) 72 73 70, M Delpodio (Ita) 73 69 73, S Garcia (Esp) 72 73 70, L Jensen (Den) 71 70 74, M Lampert (Ger) 76 68 71,

216 J Gonnet (Fra) 73 73 70, L Slattery (Eng) 75 71 70, M Tullo (Chi) 71 71 74, J Luiten (Ned) 74 72 70, V Dubuisson (Fra) 74 70 72, S Hansen (Den) 74 70 72, M Korhonen (Fin) 71 73 72, R Gonzalez (Arg) 74 70 72, A Marshall (Eng) 72 74 70, G Fdez-Castaño (Esp) 69 73 74, P Price (Wal) 70 74 72, D Higgins (Irl) 69 75 72,

217 A Cañizares (Esp) 71 73 73, M Nixon (Eng) 74 72 71, J Sandelin (Swe) 74 71 72, A Hansen (Den) 72 71 74, J Sjöholm (Swe) 69 76 72, P Lawrie (Irl) 71 74 72,

218 A Velasco (Esp) 71 71 76, P Oriol (Esp) 71 75 72, S Lowry (Irl) 78 66 74, J Morrison (Eng) 72 73 73, C Cévaër (Fra) 76 70 72, T Van Der Walt (RSA) 73 72 73, R Green (Aus) 73 72 73, S Benson (Eng) 74 72 72, C Macaulay (Sco) 73 71 74, M Manassero (Ita) 78 68 72,

219 R Derksen (Ned) 69 73 77, R Finch (Eng) 70 73 76, S Little (Eng) 73 72 74, R Davies (Wal) 73 72 74,

220 G Maybin (Nir) 74 71 75, D Brooks (Eng) 69 75 76, I Garrido (Esp) 72 71 77, A Forsyth (Sco) 76 70 74, R Cabrera-Bello (Esp) 72 73 75,

221 E Molinari (Ita) 70 73 78, A Hartø (Den) 73 67 81,

222 G Cambis (Fra) 77 69 76,

223 C Aguilar (Esp) 71 72 80,

224 J Lara (Esp) 70 74 80,

226 J Garcia Pinto (Esp) 73 71 82,

229 G Stal (Fra) 68 78 83.