Martin Kaymer enjoying struggle as he lies one off lead at Valderrama

Martin Kaymer insisted Valderrama was the one course he would play for the rest of his life, despite the Spanish Open heading for the first over-par winning total in a regular European Tour event for 20 years.

France's Michael Lorenzo-Vera carded a level-par 71 in Saturday's third round to take the lead on one over par, one shot ahead of two-time Major winner Kaymer, the Netherlands' Joost Luiten and England's Andrew Johnston.

Outside of the Major championships, Ian Woosnam was the last player to win a European Tour title after finishing over par, the former Masters champion winning the 1996 Scottish Open at Carnoustie on one over.

“I really, really enjoy the golf course,” Kaymer said after a 71 which made him one of just six players to shoot par or better. “If there was one course I could play for the rest of my life it would be this one.

“Obviously it was very hard to play the last couple of days, so to shoot level par like I did today was brilliant and makes it even more enjoyable.

“The last few months I got a little away from my natural game. I was trying to do things that did not cost me double or triple bogeys. I’m tired of playing like that because that’s not the way I play. If I make a double or triple bogey that’s fine because you also make a lot of birdies and eagles.”

Lorenzo-Vera is seeking his first European Tour title and was aided by a brilliant chip-in for birdie on the 12th and by holing his third shot to the 17th for an eagle.

“I was just trying my best and the thing is the wedge was very hot today. I holed two chip-ins which is pretty cool,” Lorenzo-Vera said. “It was great to make eagle on 17, but the one on 12 was absolutely magic.

“You have to accept that you are going to have a lot of bogeys here. A bogey is never a really bad hole so just try to accept and get out of here.”

Johnston held the outright lead following his third birdie of the day on the 11th, but bogeyed the next three holes and eventually signed for a 74.

“It was very hard-fought,” Johnston told Sky Sports. “I just tried to dig in on every shot and not make any bogeys and doubles. I just tried to keep it in play but just hung in there because people are going to be dropping shots.

“If it’s playing easier tomorrow then good, but if not at least you are prepared for it.”

Defending champion James Morrison and fellow Englishman Ross Fisher are two shots off the pace after rounds of 74 and 72 respectively, with overnight leader Pablo Larrazabal and fellow Spaniard Pep Angles another shot back.

Larrazabal covered the back nine in 41 despite birdies on the 13th and 18th, the 32-year-old carding three bogeys and two double bogeys.

A 68 from Sweden's Alex Noren was the best round of the day by two shots and moved him 43 places up the leaderboard into a tie for ninth on five over with Thomas Bjorn, Alejandro Canizares and Richard Bland, who took seven on the 16th after a dreaded shank.

Bjorn, who carded a second consecutive 71, said: “I think it’s hard to see that anyone is going to break for the tournament. It’s just a question of hanging in at the moment.

“The golf course asks questions on every hole. It’s so short you are hitting a lot wedges, sand wedges and nine irons into the greens, but even those shots are very difficult because if you short-side yourself you are staring down a bogey.

“It’s just a very demanding course and you get very tired trying to keep that momentum and focus going throughout the round.”

Ireland's Paul Dunne carded a three-over 74 to move to 10 over, still good enough for a share of 30th spot. Peter Lawrie is on 15 over after signing for a 77 in his third round.