Gavin Moynihan made two bogeys in his last three holes but still blasted a sensational third round 65 in the Italian Challenge Open by Lyoness.

The Mount Wolseley touring professional started on the back nine at Is Molas Resort in Sardinia and rattled in five birdies in six holes — including four in a row from the 13th — to go out in 31.

He then eagled the par-five first and birdied the fourth to get to eight under before dropping shots at the seventh and ninth.

His six-under par round still catapulted him 31 places up the leaderboard to tied 27th on nine-under and to within touching distance of the top 10 as he bids to remain inside the top 15 in the Road to Oman standings who will earn promotion to the main tour at the end of the season

The 22-year old from The Island is 11 shots behind Scotland’s Bradley Neil, who will take a two-shot lead from overnight leader Joel Sjöholm into the final day after carding a third round 64 —his eighth successive sub 70 round.

Sweden’s Sjöholm followed up a stunning second round 62 with a five under 66 to head into the final day in second place.

Chase Koepka, whose US Open winning brother Brooks won his second Challenge Tour title in Italy in 2013, will start the final round three shots off the lead after a six under 65. 

Ardglass Cormac Sharvin slipped 17 places to 35th on eight-under after a 70 but Moyola Park’s Chris Selfridge moved up to seven-under when he made an eagle, three birdies and a bogey in 67

Scores after Round Three:

Detailed scores

193 B Neil (Sco) 65 64 64, 

195 J Sjöholm (Swe) 67 62 66, 

196 C Koepka (USA) 65 66 65, 

199 J Mullen (Eng) 66 69 64, G Porteous (Eng) 67 67 65, O Farr (Wal) 63 69 67, 

200 E Van Rooyen (RSA) 68 66 66, M Orrin (Eng) 70 65 65, D Huizing (Ned) 67 66 67, L Gagli (Ita) 68 66 66, N Cullen (Aus) 67 66 67, O Lindell (Fin) 66 66 68, M Schwab (Aut) 67 68 65, 

201 J Suri (USA) 68 65 68, J Cafourek (Cze) 65 69 67, R Saxton (Ned) 64 65 72, 

202 A Rai (Eng) 66 67 69, R McCarthy (Aus) 66 69 67, T Murray (Eng) 66 69 67, 

203 R Sciot-Siegrist (Fra) 66 69 68, N Johansson (Swe) 71 66 66, T Pulkkanen (Fin) 64 71 68, C Bezuidenhout (RSA) 69 67 67, A Pavan (Ita) 67 66 70, F Laporta (Ita) 71 67 65, A Tadini (Ita) 69 68 66, 

204 J Heath (Eng) 69 67 68, J Guerrier (Fra) 67 71 66, M Pastor (Esp) 68 69 67, R McEvoy (Eng) 68 66 70, H Joannes (Bel) 72 65 67, A Wennstam (Swe) 69 69 66, Gavin Moynihan (Irl) 66 73 65, P Widegren (Swe) 68 69 67, 

205 S Soderberg (Swe) 71 68 66, Cormac Sharvin (Nir) 68 67 70, A Karlsson (Swe) 65 69 71, M Ovesen (Den) 69 69 67, A Rozner (Fra) 69 70 66, J Dantorp (Swe) 73 65 67, S Brown (Eng) 70 66 69, 

206 C Mivis (Bel) 66 71 69, Chris Selfridge (Nir) 70 69 67, N Ravano (Ita) 69 68 69, J Vecchi Fossa (Ita) 71 68 67, S Forsström (Swe) 70 67 69, M Delpodio (Ita) 69 68 69, D Van Driel (Ned) 68 69 69, 

207 G Boyd (Eng) 66 72 69, V Perez (Fra) 71 68 68, T Linard (Fra) 67 69 71, M Eggenberger (Sui) 67 70 70, 

208 C Ford (Eng) 68 70 70, O Stark (Swe) 63 75 70, V Riu (Fra) 68 70 70, J Girrbach (Sui) 74 63 71, J Senior (Eng) 70 69 69, D Foos (Ger) 71 68 69, E Goya (Arg) 68 68 72, E Cuartero Blanco (Esp) 69 66 73, M Fenasse (Fra) 66 71 71, M Tullo (Chi) 67 69 72, 

209 L Galliano (Sui) 70 69 70, P Gal (Cze) 71 68 70, J Sarasti (Esp) 68 71 70, J Brun (Fra) 71 67 71, 

210 R Coles (Eng) 71 68 71, A Saddier (Fra) 71 66 73, J Allan (Eng) 69 70 71, 

212 R Evans (Eng) 71 68 73, 

214 B Hellgren (Swe) 73 65 76.