Benjamin Hebert produced an incredible back nine of 28 to open up a three-shot lead heading into the final round of the Volvo China Open.
The Frenchman was well off the pace when he turned in level par 36 but made six birdies and an eagle from the 10th to get to 17 under and lead the way from Spain's Jorge Campillo and Finn Mikko Korhonen.
Home hero and 2015 champion Wu Ashun had led by four with a birdie on the 10th but four bogeys in a row from the 12th saw him slip back to 13 under.
Hebert has been a prolific winner on the Challenge Tour, with six victories on the second-tier circuit, but will be going for his first European Tour win on Sunday.
Your leader, by 3 🔝@BenHebertGolf's first ever 54-hole lead. pic.twitter.com/0wukpomM6e
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) May 4, 2019
"I played very badly on the front nine where I didn't feel good in my swing," he told europeantour.com. "I just tried to keep focused on what I'm doing and I found my rhythm on the back nine so I'm happy.
"I don't want to look ahead, I just want to focus on the rest of my day, my rest and see what happens tomorrow."
Stunning approaches to the 10th and 11th got the ball rolling for Hebert before he got up and down from the side of the green at the par-five 13th for another birdie.
Wonderful iron shots into the 15th and 16th had him in a share of the lead before he eagled the par-five 17th after finding the green in two and birdied the driveable par-four last.
Ryder Cup player Victor Dubuisson was at 12 under, with England's Jordan Smith in the group two shots further back.
