Lowry one off the lead after third-round 65

Shane Lowry is readying himself for a second successive Sunday title tilt after a brilliant third-round 65 left him just one stroke off leader Harold Varner III at the RBC Heritage in South Carolina.

Lowry, who had designs on winning the Masters last weekend before having to eventually settle for third behind Scottie Scheffler, is in a tie for second on ten-under-par along with second-round leader Patrick Cantlay and Erik van Rooyen.

Lowry, who started the day five shots behind Cantlay, had a mixed bag front nine with bogeys at the third and sixth somewhat spoiling a card that also contained four birdies to leave the Offaly man out in 34.

He would open the back-nine with consecutive birdies to get to four-under, and two more coming in – at the par-five 15th and the 18th – moved him to double figures.

It was also a good day for Graeme McDowell as a round of 66 left him in a tie for 30th position.

FULL LEADERBOARD

After parring his first four holes, McDowell hit birdies at the fifth, sixth and ninth holes to move to three-under. Another would follow at 15 before a beautiful tee shot at the par-three 17th left him on five-under and six shots off the lead.

Varner III managed the best round of the day with his hugely-impressive 63 shooting him to the top of the leaderboard.

His scorecard contained eight birdies and no dropped shots to give him a one-stroke advantage heading into the final round. Overnight leader Cantlay, however, could not take advantage of decent scoring conditions as his one-under round left him in a tie for second.