Golf:Martin Kaymer only carded a level par 71 but it was still enough to give the German a one shot lead heading into the final round of the French Open after Spain's Alejandro Canizares capitualted at the end of his round.
Kaymer traded two birdies against as many pars on the outward nine before coming home in nine straight pars to lead on nine under 204.
Canizares was in the driving seat for most of the afternoon but two late double bogeys proved costly as he eventually signed for a 73 to share second on eight under alongside England's Stephen Webster (70).
The Spaniard found the water twice at the 16th and 18th to toss away a three-shot lead at le Golf National in Paris.
One of the most dramatic finishing stretches in European golf — which could be the venue for the 2018 Ryder Cup — claimed yet another victim.
Canizares, whose father Jose-Maria was a Ryder Cup hero at The Belfry in 1989, pushed his tee into the lake at 16. The second double bogey came when he failed to make the carry with his approach to the 470-yard 18th.
The late errors handed the advantage to Kaymer, who last year won the French and Scottish Opens back-to-back. Canizares' collapse also brought a number of other players back into the reckoning, including a couple of Irish players.
Damien McGrane heads into the final round as the leading Irishman just two off the pace after a third round 67 left the Meath professional on seven under.
McGrane carded five birdies - including a closing three at the 18th - and just the one dropped shot at the short eighth.
Rory McIlroy was two shots further back on five under after his 69. The 21-year-old struggled to build any momentum but is still in with a chance after Canizares leaked shots on the closing stretch.
"I feel like I have a low one in me, but I'm struggling on the greens this week," said McIlroy, who would do well to replicate the final round 62 that earned him the Quail Hollow Championship on the PGA Tour earlier this season.
McIlroy fared better than stablemate Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter, both injury doubts (leg) before the start of the tournament. The pair played together and had to settle for 71s that kept them three under and six off the pace.
Michael Hoey was two under after a 69, while Peter Lawrie dropped back down the field to level par with a poor 75 and was joined by Gareth Maybin (70).