Rory McIlroy shot his second consecutive 67 in the Dunhill Links Championship to stay within sight of the lead held by Englishman Nick Dougherty, whose six-under-par 66 at Saint Andrew's put him in pole position.

Paul Lawrie, however, shot the round of the day at Carnoustie, the scene of his 1999 Open triumph, to move to 13-under, four shots behind Dougherty.   The Scotsman shot a course record equalling eight-under-par 64.

McIlroy's round at Kingsbarns leaves him tied for ninth, six shots behind Dougherty and just three off second place held by Australian Peter O'Malley, who equalled the Carnoustie course record yesterday.  Today he was forced to hack out backwards from the sand at the infamous 17th - his eighth - on his way to a costly double bogey, but repaired some of that damage with four birdies over his remaining 10 holes to stay in the hunt.

Open champion Padraig Harrington, the winner of the Dunhill title both last year and in 2002, is tied third with Lawrie, Steve Webster and Justin Rose.  The Dubliner was also at Kingsbarns and shot the same score as McIlroy.

In fact, the 18-year-old former European amateur champion from Holywood in County Down, was poised to shoot a 66 but he carded a bogey five at the last.  It was just his second of the day.

The youngster, making only second professional appearance, opened with four consecutive birdies and added two more before the turn.  He managed just one more at the par three 15th.

Former Open champion Ernie Els and Swedish duo Peter Hanson and Niclas Fasth share seventh on 12 under.

British Masters champion Lee Westwood, the Dunhill Links winner in 2003, missed the cut by a stroke on four under despite a 68 at Kingsbarns while Ulster's Darren Clarke also exited on four under after a 74.

Colin Montgomerie, the eight-time European number one and winner here in 2005, was another casualty as he slipped to a 74.

Having thrust himself to the front with a bogey-free round at St Andrews, Dougherty insisted he will adopt the policy of attack being the best form of defence tomorrow, as he strives to seal a long overdue success.

"Looking back to the Italian Open I think I tried to just stay in front which really was a rookie mistake," he said. "I tried to protect my lead and not make errors and that was not the right strategy.

"I'm going to go out in the final round and try and shoot a great score and if I can do that then I will be very hard to catch.

"To score 66 at St Andrews, a course which I haven't really done that well on over the years, has given me a huge lift in confidence.

"I'm relaxed and not feeling worried about being in front and that is pleasing."