American Tyler Koivisto carded a third round 62 to take a three shot lead going into the final round of the Northern Ireland Open supported by The R&A at Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort. (Photo: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)

Teacher turned golfer Tyler Koivisto fired a sublime eight-under-par 62 to take a three-stroke lead into the final round of the Northern Ireland Open Supported by The R&A.

The American leads on ten under par at Galgorm Castle Golf Club following a flawless third round and sits three strokes clear of Santiago Tarrio and Andrew Wilson, who share second place on seven-under-par.

Koivisto, who spent three years as a school teacher after graduating from college, carded six back-nine birdies to take the lead in Northern Ireland and will tomorrow go in search of a life-changing victory.

“This is probably the biggest event I’ve been in contention for,” he said. “I’ve won a few small events here and there and then obviously in College. Every time you put yourself in this position, it’s better than not being there. We’ll see what we can do.

“I hit a lot more fairways today, which helps. That’s what you have to do out here. I made a lot of putts coming down the back nine there. It was just a fun day, kind of casual, but it ended up being a really good score.

“I figured something out on the range yesterday with my swing but it wasn’t anything technical. It was just hitting shots, trying to enjoy it and playing golf.

“The putting was good for sure. I rolled it really well and saw my lines straight away. I changed the strategy a bit on a few of the holes, just to get myself on the short grass. It’s just so key out here with the juicy rough, so I hit a few more fairways and rolled the rock really well.”

The 27-year-old gave up teaching two years ago to pursue a career as a golfer and is relishing the opportunity to play in Europe, with this week being his first Challenge Tour start.

“I taught fourth grade for three years and took some time off the game,” he said. “In the last couple of years, I’ve been playing some mini-tour stuff back in the States and Monday qualifiers. I did Q-School last year in Austria, so that gave me the opportunity here. I’m just trying to grind away.

“They’re both very different. Sometimes teaching is a little more stressful and sometimes golf is, especially if you’re missing fairways.

“Last year was my first time in Europe and this is my first time in Northern Ireland too. Any time you get these opportunities, it’s nice to take advantage of them. I’ve got a lot of work to do tomorrow, but we’ll see what we can do.”

R Galbraith (NIR) during day three of the Northern Ireland Open at Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort on September 5, 2020 in Ballymena, Northern Ireland. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)

England’s Wilson had earlier roared into contention with a six-under-par round of 64, including a three-hole eagle-birdie-birdie stretch. Tarrio is looking for his best Challenge Tour finish since his fourth place at the Dimension Data Pro-Am in February.

John-Ross Galbraith was true to his word when he talked about free-wheeling after making by carding a third-round 66 to keep within touching distance of the leaders.

The Whitehead professional has been showing good form all week at Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort and was able to make inroads by keeping the mistakes to a minimum. His only dropped shot came at the difficult par-four third, otherwise it was a tidy card containing five birdies to be tied 14th on four-under, six off the overnight lead held by American Tyler Koivisto.

“I knew if I kept playing the way I have been I would be able to eliminate the bogeys and make enough birdies to shoot a good round,” said Galbraith who came home in three-under 33 with birdies at 10, 16 and 18.

“My game was very solid tee to green and gave myself loads of (birdie) chances. I actually hit the hole and it bounced out with my second on the 16th. I hit a seven iron from the rough, 170-yards, finished 10 feet and holed it.”

“I made a good par on 17 after finding more rough down the right. It was a horrible lie. Played short of the green and got up and down for par.

“At 18 I hit a great drive and a two-iron onto the green (35 feet) and two-putted for birdie. Good finish. I always seem to play the last holes well here, so I knew to stay patient,” added Galbraith, who took advantage of the calmer conditions and his familiarity with the Galgorm venue.

The 26-year-old intends to keep to the same game plan for tomorrow’s final round. “I’m playing well, just keep doing what I’m doing, keep making birdies and see where we go.”

Niall Kearney made steady progress with his two-under 68 to move to one-under. The Dubliner mixed four birdies with two dropped shots at the fifth and 17th.

“I’ve been sort of steady Eddie the last few days, nothing spectacular and just grinding it out. Course is set up tough. Conditions are definitely easier today. Not as heavy a cross breeze,” was Kearney’s summary, who is more challenged by the protocols and safety measures required due to the pandemic.

“The setup is quite restrictive as a player. We’re back and forth from hotel to golf course, can’t stop in between. I’d normally be one for going off and having a coffee somewhere and having a look about me. But that’s just the circumstances. And we’re all glad to be back competing.

Kearney has a few more playing options with Portugal on the immediate horizon.

“Hard to know what the rest of the year is going to bring. I’ve got a European Tour category too so I’m hoping to get some of those events. Portuguese Open is next week and I’m hopeful of getting into that. There’s another co-sanctioned event in Portugal the following week then the Irish Open back here, not sure where I stand for that just now,” added the 32-year-old.

Kearney believes Galgorm will stand up just fine when the big boys get here for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.

“I think this will be a tough test for the Irish Open. We’re not off the back tees this week; push them further back for the Irish Open and this is an even tougher test. The rough makes it really difficult, fairways are tight. It’s hard to make the greens from the rough around here. You have to keep it on the fairway and the wind tends to swirl around here.

Just now, Kearney is looking to finish off a good week. “I’ll just try and push on. There’s no stress really.”

It was a tough day at the office for Conor O’Rourke who dropped over 40 places after a third-round 79 left him on eight-over. The Kildare professional managed just one birdie at the short 12th on card otherwise littered with bogeys and a double-bogey six at the third.

Northern Ireland Open Supported by The R&A, Galgorm Castle Golf Club (Par 70)

Detailed scores

200 T Koivisto (USA) 67 71 62

203 S Tarrio (Esp) 69 68 66, A Wilson (Eng) 71 68 64

204 G Kristjansson (Isl) 68 67 69, C Mivis (Bel) 69 67 68, K Johannessen (Nor) 69 69 66, B Rusch (Sui) 71 67 66

205 E Di Nitto (Ita) 68 66 71, R Dinwiddie (Eng) 69 66 70, M Ovesen (Den) 68 68 69, B Hellgren (Swe) 68 69 68, R Mansell (Eng) 75 63 67, J Fahrbring (Swe) 71 68 66

206 John Ross Galbraith (Nir) 70 70 66, A Knappe (Ger) 71 70 65

207 A Plant (Eng) 67 69 71, R Evans (Eng) 71 65 71, G Higgo (RSA) 72 68 67

208 D Young (Sco) 68 71 69, S Manley (Wal) 69 70 69, W Enefer (Eng) 71 68 69, M Ford (Eng) 70 70 68

209 R Petersson (Swe) 70 68 71, C Robb (Sco) 71 68 70, C Cannon (Eng) 68 72 69, S Fernandez (Esp) 73 67 69, Niall Kearney (Irl) 71 70 68, J Dantorp (Swe) 72 69 68, J Axelsen (Den) 71 71 67, D Borda (Esp) 71 72 66

210 D Kemmer (USA) 68 72 70, R Van West (Ned) 70 71 69, P Langfors (Swe) 70 72 68, H Ellis (Eng) 71 71 68, M Waite (Eng) 73 69 68, S Gregory (Eng) 74 68 68

211 B Moore (Eng) 67 69 75, M Bullen (Eng) 72 66 73, C Berardo (Fra) 67 73 71, N Kimsey (Eng) 69 71 71, N Johansson (Swe) 70 71 70, J Grenville-wood (Eng) 69 73 69, T Sloman (Eng) 70 72 69, H Sturehed (Swe) 71 71 69, G Bloor (Eng) 72 70 69

212 J Quesne (Fra) 66 72 74, L Nemecz (Aut) 74 67 71, A Bjornsson (Isl) 73 69 70

213 B Neil (Sco) 70 67 76, B Talbot (Eng) 68 73 72, J Allan (Eng) 69 72 72, S Forsstrom (Swe) 74 67 72, A Kopp (Aut) 73 70 70, H Magnus (Isl) 73 70 70, M Orrin (Eng) 74 69 70

215 C Ross (Sco) 68 71 76

216 M Lundberg (Swe) 68 74 74, A Willey (Eng) 70 72 74, A Palmer (Eng) 70 73 73

217 J Floydd (Eng) 70 72 75, M Eggenberger (Sui) 78 65 74

218 Conor O'Rourke (Irl) 69 70 79, M Galiano Aguilar (Esp) 69 72 77