Donald leads by two in Dunhill Links

Luke Donald finished with five birdies and a bogey at Carnoustie to move to 17-under-par. AP

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (AP) -- Luke Donald shot a 4-under-par 68 Saturday for a two-stroke lead after three rounds of the Dunhill Links Championship.

The Englishman was at 17-under 199 at Carnoustie. Two of his countrymen and Ryder Cup teammates, Ian Poulter (65) and David Howell (71), were at 201. Poulter's excellent round came at Carnoustie, the most difficult of the three courses being played. Howell, the second-round leader, also played Carnoustie.

Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell also was two back. He shot a record-equaling 10-under 62 on The Old Course on Thursday, followed with a 72 Friday at Carnoustie and a 5-under 67 Saturday at Kingsbarns.

The final round Sunday is at the Old Course.

Stephen Gallacher of Scotland was three strokes off the lead after a 66 at the Old Course. Four others, including Ernie Els, were another two shots behind. Els shot a 68 Saturday at Carnoustie.

Top-ranked Vijay Singh had a 69 at Carnoustie, leaving him eight shots off the lead. His game was not sharp on the coldest day of the week. When asked if it ever gets like this in Fiji, he said: "The only time it gets this cold is when you open the refrigerator."

Donald was surprised how well he had played the links courses.

"I changed my game when I went to the States, trying to hit softer shots higher and further. That is obviously not the way to play links golf," he said. "But I still remember how to play links golf, how to play the bump and run shots and the shot under the wind. I played a lot of links golf growing up."

Poulter began with a bogey when he missed the green from 99 yards trying to play a high shot.

"But I focused well after that and just seemed to plod along to a 65," he said.

Howell said he did not swing well after 65s in the first two rounds.

"I made a couple of mental errors," he said.

Els was unhappy with his putting. Among his misses was a 3-footer for birdie at the short 13th.

"The stroke feels good, but I have to be more patient," he said.