New driver Parry has turned a huge corner

The 23-year-old Yorkshireman, a team-mate of Rory McIlroy at the 2007 Walker Cup, led the Dunhill Links Championship by four at halfway after a brilliant 65.

"It's nice to be here and I've holed putts from everywhere," said Parry, who from struggling to keep his card is now on course for a first prize of over 502,000.

His Vivendi Trophy victory in Paris was worth almost 170,000 and he celebrated that by buying himself a car – not a Lamborghini, Ferrari or Porsche, but a Vauxhall Astra.

"I would have bought something a bit nicer, but I've only just learned to drive, so the insurance companies don't seem to like me at the minute – and my parking's not very good."

Parry turned professional three years ago like McIlroy, but while the Irish wonder boy was an instant hit he failed to come through the qualifying school and had to go away to the "third division" EuroPro Tour.

"I didn't have any money at all, but my manager sort of backed me and I think I came out about even," he said.

From that he earned a place on the Challenge Tour and, thanks to a closing 63 for a win in this same week last year, he graduated from that to the main circuit.

Sweden's Martin Erlandsson, yet to win on Tour, is in second place after a 68 at Carnoustie, the hardest of the three courses used for the celebrity pro-am.

Three players are a further stroke back – big-hitting Spaniard Alvaro Quiros and Ryder Cup pair Ross Fisher and Martin Kaymer.

Lee Westwood was bothered again by his injured calf and with a 72 is now 10 back. He requires a top-two finish to grab the world No 1 spot off Tiger Woods and is just outside the top 30.