Victor Perez and Matthew Southgate showed all of their links pedigree on day three of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship to share a two shot lead heading into the final round on Scotland’s east coast.
Frenchman Perez carded a second 64 of the week at Kingsbarns Golf Links to move to 20 under and was joined at the top of the leadeboard by Southgate after the Englishman birdied his final hole in a 65 at St Andrews.
England’s Paul Waring was then at 18 under after a brilliant 65 at Carnoustie, a shot clear of American Tony Finau and Swede Joakim Lagergren, both of whom played St Andrews in round three.
Born in the seaside town of Southend, Southgate’s familiarity with links golf comes as no surprise but Perez – who hails from the landlocked town of Tarbes – has taken a less direct route to master the coastal game.
The 27-year-old moved to Dundee last year to be with his girlfriend and admitted after his opening 64 at St Andrews that he had been truly getting to grips with links golf after moving to the east coast.
He continued to show his prowess with a 68 in round two at Carnoustie and after a third round containing nine birdies and a single bogey, he will be looking to add a first European Tour title to his two Challenge Tour wins.
‘It’s just being at home and comfortable and all the little things that come with it,’ he said. ‘You drive your own car and sleeping in your own bed, a huge thing when you travel around and being in hotels all the time.
‘I feel also the wind, just being comfortable with knowing that, ‘okay, this is 25 yards of wind into the wind’ and just trusting the numbers, I think that plays an advantage.
‘It’s definitely what we practise for. It’s the home of golf, in the final group. What more to ask?’
Southgate produced one of the stories of the 2015 season as he came through all three stages of Qualifying School just months after undergoing surgery for testicular cancer.
