As the World Number 177 John Parry held the lead at the Alfred Dunhill Links another recent European Tour graduate, Simon Thornton, made his way home to Newcastle County Down after carding a round of 76 on day three to miss the cut by six shots.
Fellow Tour School qualifier from last December, Gary Murphy, also finished the event early following a 6 over par finish after a closing round of 74 on Saturday.
Parry, who two weeks after his first European Tour success is now 18 holes away from a €580,046 jackpot as the 23 year old Challenge Tour graduate carded 71 at Carnoustie to go into the final round two in front of German Martin Kaymer and Spaniard Alvaro Quiros – with a score of 13 under par.
Lee Westwood could be crowned as the new World Number One at The Home of Golf - but it is his compatriot John Parry who remains on course to emerge as the winner of one of Europe's richest events at St Andrews.
Westwood, needing a first or second-place finish in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship to end the latest five-year reign of Tiger Woods, made light of his aching leg to fire a spectacular 66 at Carnoustie. It lifted the 37 year old - close to pulling out on Thursday night - all the way from 32nd place to joint fifth on eight under par.
"I think everybody playing out here would love to be able to say they are the best player in the world - anybody who plays professional sport," said Westwood.
"I think it would be the high point of my career without a doubt. We all know how much hard work goes into it, so it's the accolade where you look on the list and you're right at the top and it says number one. (It) obviously it means a lot."
Kaymer finished with a bogey like Parry, but the US PGA Championship winner will still fancy his chances. The German leads The Race to Dubai and has won his last two tournaments - three if you count Europe's triumph at The Celtic Manor Resort on Monday.
He and big-hitting Quiros both had 68s, while over at Kingsbarns Danny Willett - a team-mate of Parry and Rory McIlroy in the 2007 Walker Cup - moved into fourth spot on nine under with a 67.
Westwood's was the round of the day, however, and given both the weather conditions and his own physical condition it was a remarkable effort. He sounded on the point of withdrawing after his opening 70 at Kingsbarns on Thursday.
Told he was not likely to damage his leg further by playing on, however, he added a 72 on The Old Course and grabbed seven birdies on what is regarded as comfortably the toughest of the three courses used for the celebrity pro-am.
Westwood is still feeling his leg - "I last about nine holes before it starts getting sore," he commented - and rates himself only 50-50 to defend the Portugal Masters title next week.
"My main priority is to get into shape for The Masters at Augusta next April," he added.
"What I don't want to do is keep going around in circles and have to rehab it all the time.
"I want to get back to it being 100 per cent if I can. I got it back to a state where I could play The Ryder Cup, but I needed to take time off after that to finish the recuperation and I've not allowed myself to do that."
He would not be the first to go to number one without first winning a Major - Ian Woosnam, Fred Couples and David Duval all did it.
Padraig Harrington is the leading Irish player on 7 under after a round of 70 at Carnoustie – where most of the Irish players were on day three.
Graeme McDowell is on shot behind on 6 under after a round of 72.
Rory McIlroy carded a 70 and is two over par.
Shane Lowry is level par after a round of 77.
Projected to miss the cut is Gareth Maybin on one over par after signing for a round of 72. Along with fellow Northern Ireland player, Darren Clarke.
Damien McGrane also misses out on 2 over par following a round of 78.
Peter Lawrie and Paul McGinley finished Saturday 3 over par and also outside the mark.
After a round of 74 Michael Hoey was on 6 over par.
