The sold-out signs went up at the Irish Open yesterday for the first time since Portrush hosted in 2012.
But, with Rory McIlroy absent and Graeme McDowell having missed the cut, the massive Lahinch crowd's hopes of seeing a moving day cavalry charge by Shane Lowry and Padraig Harrington were dashed.
Neither were able to get a run going, with Harrington shooting a second consecutive 73.
His opening course record round of 63 seemed like a distant memory, particularly when Robert Rock posted a magnificent third round 60. "It was a good score, considering he had all the bad weather that was there today," acknowledged Harrington.
"It was a big figure to put up on the board. He's justifiably in the lead.
"It was nice to finish with a birdie, but I didn't hole too many putts.
"You have to create momentum.I left a few shots out there early on, and then just made for a long, hard day."
Lowry felt the effects of a stomach bug during his second round but finally felt he was gaining momentum again when he birdied 11 yesterday. But he bogeyed 12 after driving as far left as he can remember on a great birdie hole.
"I think rain got between the clubface and the ball and it just squeezed off left," he explained.
Lowry described the eventual dropped shot as a "killer" to any hopes of finishing strong.
"I'm a bit disappointed I'm not going to have a chance to win the tournament, because I really felt I could do so," said the 32-year-old.
"But I'm not going to beat myself up over it. It's just another week in the life of a golfer.
"You just come out and try to play as well as you can, and if it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen."
Lowry insists the pressure of home expectations wasn't a factor. "I don't feel uncomfortable out there," he stated. "I don't feel the added pressure on me.
"Look, I want to go out there no more than anyone else and shoot five or six-under today, give myself a chance.
"I gave it my best. It was the first bad putting round I've probably had in a long time".
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