Irishman Paul Dunne tops Open leaderboard ahead of final round
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Irishman Paul Dunne tops Open leaderboard ahead of final round

Irishman Paul Dunne is the co-leader of The Open Championship ahead of the fifth and final day at St Andrews on Monday.

The Wicklow amateur sits 12 under alongside seasoned professionals Louis Oosthuizen and Jason Day as the event runs into an extra day following weather disruptions over the weekend.

It’s the first time an amateur has topped the leaderboard after three rounds since American Bobby Jones way back in 1927.

Shooting a 66 on Day Three, 22-year-old Dunne also carded the lowest ever round by an amateur at The Open in its 144th edition.

In what promises to be a dramatic final day, Dunne and South African Oosthuizen will tee off together on Monday at 2.30pm.

Meanwhile, Dunne is not the only Irishman in with a chance of lifting the famous Claret Jug, with Padraig Harrington in contention at 10 under, meaning there’s two representatives of Ireland in the top five.

Harrington has the invaluable experience of having won The Open on two occasions previously (2007 and 2008) but some 25 players are all five shots within the lead ahead of a potentially memorable final day.