Spain's Alvaro Quiros will take a commanding lead into the final round of the Rocco Forte Open in pursuit of the victory to get his career firmly back on track.
On a day when strong winds gusting up to 30mph made scoring hugely difficult, overnight leader Quiros was one of just seven players to break par with a third round of 70 at Verdura Golf Club.
And even that was only possible thanks to a brilliant par save on the 18th, the six-time European Tour winner producing a superb pitch off a cart path and over a television tower to within three feet of the hole.
At 16 under par, Quiros was five shots clear of South Africa's Zander Lombard, who held the lead after an eagle on the ninth only to bogey the next three holes and double-bogey the 18th.
pain's Pep Angles and Italy's Renato Paratore are a shot further back on 10 under, the 24-year-old Angles climbing from 31st to third thanks to a 68 which was the only sub-70 score of the day.
Northern Ireland's Michael Hoey struggled to a 75 to fall back into a six-way tie for fifth on nine under alongside David Horsey, Lee Slattery, Raphael Jacquelin, Jose-Filipe Lima and Johan Carlsson.
The Antrim man was just two behind Quiros at the start of the day's play but hit five bogeys, a double-bogey and three birdies in an uneven round.
Gary Hurley shot a one-over 72, which was enough for him to rise six place to joint 11th, one shot behind Hoey.
After winning twice on the European Tour in 2011 Quiros was ranked 21st in the world, but after trying to make swing changes he has gradually slipped to his current position of 703rd and missed 15 cuts in 23 events in 2016.
That meant the 34-year-old lost his card and he had planned to regain it via the Challenge Tour, but a victory on Sunday would give him a European Tour exemption until the end of 2018.
"Today was the worst golfing day for me," said Quiros, who had followed an opening 63 with a 64 on Friday to lead by two at halfway.
"From the tee I was more irregular than normal but I played with the same intentions, trying to fight until the final hole and I've been putting well too.
"Today it was really difficult to putt, the wind was blowing crazy strong and on the greens the perception was always changing with the intensity of this wind. I'm happy with where I am right now.
"Golf is a very difficult game, you never know what's around the corner. I've been very lucky this week. If I'm not mistaken, I haven't had a single unplayable ball and that's a very lucky thing in these windy conditions.
"If my game stays more or less where it is and I keep putting like I am, I'm going to have chances up until the end."
