Portmarnock’s Adrian Morrow won a duel in the sun with England’s Alan Mew and Stephen East in glorious weather at the immaculate Waterville.
The lead swung between the three players for most of the day before Morrow seemed to edge ahead, taking a three-shot lead after 15 holes.
However, a bogey there and a birdie from East saw his lead reduced to one, but he held his nerve, finishing in style with a 20-foot putt for birdie at the par-five 18th.
It gave Morrow a two-under 70 and a three-round total of level par, 216.
Woodbook’s John L Hughes was the nearest challenger to the leading trio, carding a 74 to finish on seven over, one ahead of Maurice Kelly (Naas) and Tom Cleary (Cork).