Daniel Augustus produced his lowest round ever at Tuckers Point yesterday to open up a comfortable five-shot lead heading into today's final round of the Bermuda Men's Amateur Strokeplay Championships.

The 22-year-old golfer fired a blistering one-under-par 69 – the lowest round of the tournament so far – to take his three-day total to 215 and claim sole possession of the lead from overnight leaders Jun Hardart and Michael McCrimmom.

Augustus combined three birdies with two bogeys to stake a strong claim for a maiden Amateur Strokeplay title at the third attempt.

He finished runner-up behind winner Robert Vallis in last year's event and barring a catastrophe should finally get over the hump in today's final round as he has been steady throughout the week and is showing no signs of letting up.

"I just hope I can go out there and make par and let everyone else come after me. I just need to make sure I play shot-by-shot and not dwell on the future," Augustus told The Royal Gazette.

The Riddell's Bay employee found 15 greens in regulation and apart from missing what should have been two straightforward putts on the second and 16th holes had a reasonably solid round with the putter.

"I didn't hit the ball as well as I have been for the first two days. I just had a couple more putts go in," he said. "It could've easily had a 67 today, but I'll take a 69 any day."

The only blemish on Augustus' copybook were bogeys on the second and 13th holes which in the grand scheme of things were nothing more than a minor blip.

Five shots off the pace in second place is previous leader Hardart (220) who carded a five-over-par 75 yesterday and breathing down his neck a further shot adrift in third is compatriot Mark Phillips (221) who managed a three-over-par 73.

In stark contrast to Augustus' mostly trouble-free stroll around the course, overnight joint-leader McCrimmom (226) endured a round he would rather want to quickly forget. The Canadian carded an 11-over-par 81 and is currently tied with local Jeff Lindo (226) in fourth.

Reigning Match Play champion, Tariqah Walikraam, continues to set the pace in the Women's Amateur Strokeplay Championships.

Walikraam (151) had a seven-over-par 77 yesterday and with one round remaining leads second placed Ann Symonds (158) by a comfortable seven shots.

In third is Tracy Nash (162) who came in at 13 over-par.