The Open 2013: Jimmy Mullen refocuses on Silver Medal bid

Devon teenager Jimmy Mullen thought he might still have an outside chance of winning the Open Championship going into his third round at Muirfield.

But a four-over round of 75 left the 19-year-old to focus on a battle to win the Silver Medal, which annually goes to the leading amateur at the Open.

"I was thinking that if I could put two decent rounds together, I might have a chance of the Claret Jug," he said.

"But that did not did not happen. I was lucky if I hit two fairways all day."

Mullen secured his place for the weekend with a flourish late on Friday evening when he holed a putt for a birdie three at the last.

And he was looking to rediscover the sort of form he showed in Local Final Qualifying at North Berwick a fortnight ago when he fired two matching three-under 68s to head the field - including former Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie - by a single shot.

But any hopes of a move up the leaderboard were dashed by four dropped shots in his first six holes, the lowlight being a double bogey six at the sixth.

He then managed two birdies in three holes, at 10 and 12, either side of a bogey five at the 11th,

But although he chipped in for a further birdie at 15 to get him back to two over for his round, he carded further bogeys at 16 and 17 before nervelessly rolling in a five-foot putt for par at 18 to stay within two shots of his rival for the silver medal, Sheffield's Matt Fitzpatrick.

"I was 10 off the lead overnight," said Mullen.

"And the way it is out there anyone can run up all sorts of numbers, so you have to think positively and, with the support I had out there, I thought I might still have a chance.

"I didn't actually enjoy it today as I'm playing very bad. But, whatever happens in my final round, it's still been a great week and hopefully I'll get the chance to come back again."