DAVID Howell was on course for his best European Tour finish since mid-January at the Scottish Open in Inverness after a see-saw third round yesterday.

Howell carded a four-under-par 68 - which included two eagles and a triple bogey - to climb to the edge of the top 20 and Castle Stuart Golf Links.

Having made his first cut in three Tour events, the two-time Ryder Cup star from Swindon stepped it up a gear as he honed his preparations for the Open Championship at Royal Troon this coming week.

He eagled the long second and birdied the third before promptly handing back all those shorts by posting a six at the short fourth.

A second birdie of the day at the sixth was followed by another at the 10th, although Howell was back to one under for the day when he bogeyed the 16th hole.

But the Wiltshire man finished with a flourish, adding a birdie at the par three 17th before carding a second eagle at the long finishing hole.

Sweden's Alex Noren took a two-shot lead into today's final round after surviving miserable conditions.

Noren carded six birdies and two bogeys to sign for a 68 and double his overnight advantage, despite the strong winds of the first two days giving way to torrential downpours.

England's Tyrrell Hatton and Italy's Matteo Manassero were Noren's nearest challengers on 10 under par, with South Africa's Justin Walters and New Zealand's Danny Lee a shot further back.