A final round of 76 sent Ashbourne golfer John Dwyer to a fifth place finish on Friday after leading the PGA Professional Championship overnight from Gareth Wright who shot 65 to take the title.

Wright boomed his way to a superb victory with a seven-under-par 65 on the last day of the £78,000 championship, supported by Peugeot.

That proved too hot for his rivals with his 17-under total leaving him four strokes clear of nearest challenger Craig Shave who carded his third 67.

FRIDAY MORNING REPORT

Former Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship winner John Dywer from Ashbourne holds the aces after playing a shrewd hand to return a four-under-par 68 and establish a two shot lead going into Friday's final round at De Vere Carden Park.

Gareth Wright from West Linton near Edinburgh who is at 10 under for the £78,000 tournament which is supported by Peugeot.

The Welsh ace would have been even closer on Dwyer's heels but for a bogey on the par five last - a hole he eagled 24 hours previously.

His 71 left him a stroke in front of Minchinhampton New Golf Club left-hander Stuart Little who managed a 72 thanks to a brilliant birdie on the last when he extricated himself from a tricky bunker shot to sink a 10 foot putt.

Overnight leader Craig Shave (Whetstone) slipped to a 74 but at eight under is still well in contention as the tournament reaches a potentially dramatic finale.

Dywer is in pole position to land the £10,000 first prize although despite two birdies on each nine he revealed it wasn't quite the serene round it appeared with the 2007 winner taking advantage of three drops.

"I struggled on the front nine, I was not as sharp off the tee as usual which is normally the strongest part of my game," he said.

"I had three free drops on the front nine, two off a buggy path and one out of an unmarked drain so I was a bit wild. That's not me.

"But I found something on the back nine and every time I got it round the hole I was able to sink it and every time I got in trouble I was able to make pars."

Despite his two stroke cushion, Dwyer is clear he will need another low round tomorrow to secure victory and with it near certain qualification for next year's Great Britain & Ireland PGA Cup team to face America at Slaley Hall.

"There are a number of guys who can shoot low so I'm going to have to do something good under par I would imagine," he added.

"I just need to put the ball in play. It's really not a difficult golf course if you can put the ball in play off the tee.

"I've been thinking my way round the golf course well because I'm hitting a lot of three woods which again is not me because I'm not a long hitter. But I have a new three wood that I can get out 15 yards within my driver so I have hit that as often as I possibly can."

Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship - second round scores

1 - 66, 70, 68 (-12) John Dwyer Ashbourne

2 - 66, 69, 71 (-10) Gareth Wright West Linton

3 - 69, 66, 72 (-9) Stuart Little Minchinhampton

4 - 67, 67, 74 (-8) Craig Shave Whetstone

5 - 73, 71, 67 (-5) Robert Wragg Robert Wragg Golf

70, 67, 74 Steve Parry North West Golf Academy

7 - 75, 68, 69 (-4) James Whatley Morley Hayes Golf

71, 71, 70 Craig Sutherland Cherry Lodge

9 - 73, 73, 67 (-3) Jonathan Cheetham www.1836tour.com

70, 74, 69 Daniel Greenwood Forest Pines