IRELAND’S Cormac Sharvin was rewarded for holding his nerve on a testing afternoon at Seaton Carew with a share of the lead going in to the final round of the Brabazon trophy.

In changing conditions out on the Seaton Carew track, Sharvin’s three-under 70 saw him put the two Englishmen leading way after round two under serious pressure.

Both Ben Stow and Ryan Evans had frustrating days on the County Durham links and were relieved to have got away with two-over 75 scores which still leaves them joint leaders going into Saturday’s final play.

Evans had held a one shot advantage going up the last but three-putted to ensure there is no clear leader after round three.

It is far from certain that the winner will emerge from that group, with the pack tightened beneath them after a day when the wind’s strength changed regularly and there was intermittent rain.

But Craig Ross (Kirkhill), Michael Saunders (Dartford), Gavin Moynihan (Island), Scott Gibson (Southerness), Ashley Chesters (Hawkstone) and Daniel Young (Craigie Hill) are all just a shot further back on six-under.

There are also a further four golfers sitting on five-under, with the top 20 players all boasting under par scores.

Enfield’s Harry Casey is among that quartet, having turned in the performance of the day with an impressive five-under 68 to put the pressure on the leaders earlier in the day.

Boldon’s Gavin Nesbit finished with a two-over 75 meaning he will start Saturday on a respectable two-over. Prudhoe’s Thomas Rowland and Whickham’s James Simpson are well out of contention, though, on three-over after a respective 77 and 78.