Back at the venue where he finished third in the European tour qualifying school last November England's David Griffiths takes a two-shot lead into the final round of the Spanish Open on Sunday.
The 25-year-old from Watford, who had the first top 10 finish of his tour career in Madeira a month ago, had a joint best-of-the-day 66 to move to 17 under par at San Roque.
Swedes Robert Karlsson and Niclas Fasth are his closest challengers, but pre-tournament favourites Colin Montgomerie and Miguel Angel Jimenez are deep in the pack.
Dubliners Stephen Brown and Peter Lawrie are the best of the Irish, tying for 20th place. David Higgins, the only other Irishman to make the cut, isn't faring so well, today's 72 only enough to take him to 6 under.
On another day of low scoring Montgomerie and Jimenez managed only level par rounds of 72 and are down on eight under and four under respectively.
Hartlepool's Graeme Storm, leader after the first and second rounds, was still out in front after an outward 33, but then came three bogeys in four holes.
However, two birdies in the final few holes, including a chip-in at the last, lifted Storm back into a tie for fourth with Dane Thomas Bjorn.
Griffiths, ranked 554 in the world, also chipped in - for eagle at the long second. He then birdied the sixth and 11th and had three more in a row from the 14th before dropping his first shot of the week at the difficult 215-yard 17th.
