Chris Wood extended his lead to four shots heading into the final round of the Iberdrola Open in Mallorca, Spain.
The 23-year-old Englishman, looking to win his first title on the European Tour, began the penultimate day with a three-stroke lead and extended that by one thanks to a one-under-par round of 69, improving him to nine-under through 54 holes.
Wood made fine start to his third round by holing a 10-foot birdie putt on the first, and he parred the rest of his outward nine before a superb two-iron second shot at the 10th led to his second birdie of the day.
He saved par at the next two holes but bogeyed the 14th for his only low point of the day, although he could have wiped that out had his six-foot birdie putt not rolled just past the left edge.
Wood told europeantour.com: “I have extended my lead by one which is good but it was pretty tough today and I thought that I played pretty well and didn't really get the rewards I deserved.
“A lot of my birdie chances stayed out but overall it was a good day.
“I felt I was pretty flawless on the front nine today so I just need to do what I have been doing and hole a couple of more putts and I should be alright. It's pretty solid at the moment.”
Hoping to hunt him down on the final day are Shane Lowry, Darren Clarke and Jose Maria Olazabal.
Lowry shot six birdies, an eagle and a bogey in a superb round of 63 on Saturday, equalling the course record, to surge to a share of second place with Northern Irishman Clarke, whose par-round ensured he would remain at five-under.
Veteran Spaniard Olazabal is a solitary shot behind them courtesy a four-under-par round that lifted him to four under, while Gregory Bourdy bounced back from a dismal 77 in round two with a third-round 67 that leaves him on three –under alongside Scott Jamieson and David Lynn.