A scintillating finish gave Argentine Ricardo Gonzalez the lead in the Portuguese Open after the third round and the chance of a fourth European Tour title.

Gonzalez finished birdie-eagle to equal the Penina course record of eight-under-par 64 and move to 13-under 203, a stroke in front of the long-time leader Paul Broadhurst.

Broadhurst, who had also equalled the course record in the first round, by contrast hit trouble three holes from home with a double-bogey after his ball finished up behind a fir-tree. But he gave himself hope of defending his title by holing a 30ft birdie putt on the last for a 71.

Anthony Wall, Jarmo Sandelin and Carl Suneson are a further stroke back.

It was the second big finish of the week for Gonzalez, who shot a 66 in the second round, giving him hope he can improve on two fourth place finishes earlier this year.

"Really the course shouldn't suit a big-hitter like me because it is more for the shorter hitters and good putters, but I've been playing well for five weeks now," said Gonzalez. "I said to my caddie yesterday we needed a birdie-birdie finish and did it and today said the same, but I went one better."

Gonzalez tore into the 18th and only needed a 10ft putt for his eagle after his birdie on 17.

For Broadhurst it went the other way. After his five on the short 16th he bunkered himself on 17 and was relieved to at least salvage something at the end.

"I needed that putt at the end just to keep my head on," said Broadhurst. "I was bleeding. It was odd, though, I didn't putt very well. Ricardo's had two good rounds and now we'll have to see how he goes under the cosh."

Broadhurst's poorer putting display was illustrated by his taking 31 putts in the third round compared to 24 apiece for the opening two days.