Dwayne Pearman is now 18 holes away from successfully defending his Bermuda Professional Golf Association Championship crown after slightly distancing himself from the rest of the field at Tucker?s Point yesterday.

For the second day in succession Pearman (217) shot a two-over-par 72 ? seven over after three rounds ? to open a three-shot lead over nearest rival Andrew Trott (220) with third placed Cornell Bean (222) five shots adrift heading into today?s fourth and final round of the 72-hole tournament.

UBP senator Kim Swan shot a six-over-par 76 yesterday to move to 223 for the tournament but slipped back one spot to fourth overall after beginning yesterday?s round tied with Bean for third.

Danny Johnson (232) continues to lead the senior?s bracket by a staggering 14 shots over nearest challenger Frankie Rabain (246).

Eardley Jones remains one shot back at 247.

Yesterday also saw former cricketer David (Lights) James fall off the pace and slump from fifth to eighth after coming in at nine-over-par 79, while Bobby McRonald and Andrew Bissell have both withdrawn from the tournament that concludes today at Tucker?s Point.

Pearman?s round got off to another shaky start when he bogeyed two holes on the front nine and was then forced to take a penalty drop at 13 when his approach to the pin soared over and plugged into an embankment some ten-feet away from the green.

Redemption, though, would arrive on the very next hole where Pearman tapped in a solitary birdie for the day from two feet.

?I?m hitting the ball well but just not making the putts,? the former Belmont Invitational and multiple Bermuda Open champion told . ?My stroke feels okay but I guess I?m just not reading the greens correctly.?

With Trott, who carded a second straight round of four-over-par 74 to remain within striking distance of the lead breathing right down his neck, Pearman is fully aware he will have to raise his putting game to a higher level over the final 18 holes if he?s to fend off the challenges of Trott and possibly Bean.