Past champions PH Horgan III, Ian Doig and Kirk Hanefeld all fired four-under-par 66 during yesterday?s penultimate round of the $50,000 Gosling?s Invitational at Belmont Hills, leaving the tournament wide open with 18 holes left to play.

2004 champion Horgan, who shot a record 64 the day before to set the newly refurbished course ablaze, picked up where he had left off to reel in overnight leader Joe Horowitz (213), who shot a seven-over-par 77 yesterday to fall seven shots off the pace.

Horowitz opened up a two-shot lead over defending champion Hanefeld and three-time Invitational winner Doig who entered the clubhouse at even par for the tournament ? four shots off the lead.

?I was very happy and satisfied with my play today, especially because sometimes it?s difficult to follow a good round with another good round,? commented former US PGA Tour player Horgan who successfully underwent eye surgery earlier this year.

The three-time winner on the Nationwide Tour will now tee off alongside Hanefeld and Doig in today?s final round shortly after 11 a.m. knowing fully that the prestigious Challenge Trophy remains well and truly within his grasp.

Four-time Invitational champion Tim Conley (214), meanwhile, slipped back two places from third to fifth ? four over for the tournament ? after carding a four-over-par 74 yesterday.

But where Conley and Horowitz wilted, Horgan (206), Hanefeld (208) and Doig (210) all prevailed.

Horgan, who has grossed $1.5 million in career earnings since turning pro in 1984 ? the same year Canadian rival Doig won his first Invitational at Belmont ? dropped two shots at the par four second and par three fourth holes, before magnificently rebounding with an eagle at the par five sixth hole that complemented birdies at the first and eighth holes.

?That (eagle) really turned it around for me and these greens are the best I?ve putted on in years here on the Island,? Horgan continued. ?They are very fast and tricky along with great pin placements.?

Having made the turn at two-under to lay the foundation for a second straight round under par, the American added three more birdies on a equally benign back nine to become the third leader at Belmont Hills in as many days.

?Overall I?m very happy to be in the lead, considering I shot 76 on the first day. Now I just have to keep making birdies obviously,? Horgan said.

?The course is in such great condition and the greens so beautiful that whenever you have a birdie opportunity you have to capitalise.

?I?ve played with Kirk (Hanefeld) over the first two days and he is a really solid player while Ian (Doig) is no slouch either.

?But if I can keep playing the way I?ve been playing, then I should be okay. I just have to stick to my game plan and not lose my clubs.?

Fellow American Hanefeld and Canadian Doig were no less potent during yesterdays round.

Hanefeld, who pipped European Senior pro Delroy Cambridge for the title last year over the closing holes, could not have asked for a better start to his round yesterday after making an eagle on the par four first hole. The defending champion then carded three birdies on the back nine to place himself in the thick of contention heading into today?s final round.

Multiple Invitational champion Doig ? who holds the old course record (63) at Belmont ? also produced a consistent round of golf which saw the Canadian tap in four birdies, three of which materialised on the back nine.

Meanwhile, 1992 champion and Bermuda?s own Dwayne Pearman (220) leads the local field having climbed one spot from 11th to 10th after UBP senator Kim Swan (221) fell back four spots after carding a six-over-par 76 yesterday.

Bermuda?s Nick Mansell (224) holds a slim lead over compatriots Jeffrey Lindo (225) and Leroy Burch (226) in the amateur division.

Locals Noel Van Putten (234) and Quinton Sherlock Jr (234) remain joint leaders of the senior division by a single shot over Adley Madeiros (235).

?I think we can look forward to some very exciting golf and good shot making tomorrow,? tournament organiser Alex Madeiros told last night.

?The greens will be in great shape, as always, while the course is definitely holding its own against the field.?

Despite struggling with the putter in blustery conditions, Bermuda?s Daniel Augustus continued his impressive form on the International Junior Golf Tour (IJGT) in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida last weekend.

The Bermudian carded 235 over three rounds to finish in a three-way tie for 15th among a highly competitive field of 96 junior golfers along with American Randy Little and Canada?s Evan Larocque.

?I thought I hit the ball well but overall it was probably one of my worse putting rounds. I didn?t make one birdie for the whole tournament which is pretty bad,? Augustus told .

?But the bright side is that I hit the ball great and my swing is getting so much better.?

The International Golf Academy student carded rounds of 77, 78 and 80.

It was Augustus? second best finish at a IJGT sanctioned event this season after finishing ninth at the Chateau Elan Championships in Braselton, Georgia earlier this month.

?The greens were rolling very fast and it was really windy. But my putting just failed,? he continued.

?I think I could?ve done a lot better. But to come 15th with the way I putted was still a very good achievement.?