khan cards two eagles

Click here for live desktop updates
Click here for full live leaderboard
Click here for Dave Tindall blog

Simon Khan was flying high after two eagles on the back nine - at the 10th and the 16th - on the road to a 68.

That was 11 shots better than his playing partner, fellow Englishman Paul Casey who in contrast had an eight at the 10th and a seven four holes later.

Khan said: "I got a bit lucky at the 10th. I hit a three iron in and just missed the bunker.

"It chased up to the back pin for a tap-in eagle. That got me going.

"My iron play was good, and that is my strength - shaping shots into the pin and things like that."

Meanwhile, little-known Robert Rock, who surprisingly led the home challenge into the third round at the Open, managed only a 73 and fell into the pack from his overnight eighth place.

The world number 503, who survived a seven-hole play-off to earn a place in the field, faced an uphill struggle from the time he double-bogeyed the second and bogeyed the third.

With 18 holes to play the top British player is now Mansfield's Greg Owen on eight under.

With a 68 he out-scored playing partner Phil Mickelson by five - and that after suffering yet more back problems before the round.