• Alfred Dunhill Links Championship

Wilson on course but McIlroy in the hunt

Oliver Wilson leads by three but it could have been better after a missed birdie at 18 © Getty Images

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Oliver Wilson is closing in on his maiden European Tour title at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship - but he will have to hold off the challenge of world No.1 Rory McIlroy in Sunday's final round.

Wilson, playing with an invite as he lost full playing rights on tour in 2011, carded a seven-under-par 65 on the Old Course at St Andrews to establish a three-shot lead at 15-under.

On his tail at 12-under are four players, including McIlroy, who shot a 64, and Tommy Fleetwood, who carded the round of the day with a 62 and the French pair of Alexander Levy (68) and Raphael Jacquelin (69).

Rory McIlroy and dad Gerry will play together again on Sunday - Gerry's 55th birthday © Getty Images

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Heavy overnight rain caused an hour's delay to the start of play, and officials adopted the preferred lie rule, meaning Fleetwood's 10-under round, was not counted as tying the Old Course record. Louis Oosthuizen, the 2010 Open Championship winner at St Andrews, also shot a 62.

Before he lost his card, Wilson, a 2008 Ryder Cup player, was runner-up nine times on tour, including here in 2009.

"I'm pretty happy with that," Wilson said. "I expect Rory to shoot lights out every time he tees it up. The other names that are on the board don't really affect me. I'm just doing my thing, trying to shoot as good a score as I can, get it in play, one shot at a time, all the boring stuff, but it's true. I managed to do that really well.

"I got ahead of myself a couple times today but managed to just bring the head back in gear and focus on the shots.

"There's 18 holes, long holes, and it's going to be a long day tomorrow, but it would mean a lot. I love this tournament and I've done well here before. I love coming to the Old Course, all the courses, but that walk up 18 is pretty cool.

"I'll be nervous. It's a big day for me. Last year I got off to a great start and kind of fizzled out in a similar kind of position really."

McIlroy also admitted some frustration, despite being well in the hunt. His only dropped shot came at 16 when he needed two to escape a fairway bunker.

"I got off to a really fast start and was trying to keep it going, and I sort of did through the turn," he said.

"But as you said the last four holes weren't really what I wanted. But any time you shoot a score like that around St Andrews, you have to be happy."

McIlroy's dad, Gerry, holed a birdie at 18 and will tee up alongside his son on his 55th birthday.

"Dad and I are going to get to play St Andrews on his birthday tomorrow which will be a huge treat for both of us," the younger McIlroy added.

Alfred Dunhill Links Championship leaderboard

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