Denmark's Søren Kjeldsen took control of the Open de Andalucia de Golf 09 with a dazzling ten under par 62 at Real Club de Golf de Sevilla.
The round broke the Real course record by one and shaved a stroke off his lowest ever score on The European Tour - and it also took him from five behind at halfway into a one stroke lead over Scotland’s David Drysdale.
Last November's Volvo Masters champion grabbed seven birdies in a row, only one short of The Tour record, and then three holes later made a 45 foot eagle putt on the long 16th to reach 14 under par.
“It was a real pleasure to play 2 first rounds with Miguel Ángel Jiménez, he is such a special person and we all like him a lot,” said the Dane.
“I’m very happy with my round, the bogey on the sixth did not affect me. Yesterday I was disappointed because I played last 11 holes badly so I was looking forward today. I’ll try my best but if Carlos plays well it will be wonderful. I will be nervous but I think is good to play under pressure.”
Another Scot, Alastair Forsyth, is at ten under along with local favourite Carlos Del Moral.
Kjeldsen is set to make his debut in the Masters Tournament in 12 days’ time having qualified for Augusta by finishing last year 50th on the World Rankings - by one hundredth of a point.
"I was told I was in by a guy who writes a website in Denmark, then he called again to say that he had it wrong and if Richard Sterne won in South Africa I would be 51st,” he said.
"I watched him make tons of birdies on the back nine, then win in a play-off, so went on a ten mile run on the beach screaming and shouting.
"I came back, settled down, went to bed and then the same guy rang at midnight to say he had it wrong and I was in.
"I was completely drained, but it's a dream to play there and I already have the invitation framed."
He will go in good form too. Two weeks ago he finished seventh in the World Golf Championships - CA Championship in Miami.
Drysdale, 34, is seeking his first Tour win and has made ten trips to Qualifying School, but he was second in the 2006 Russian Open and third at the Joburg Open in January.
He was level par for the day after ten holes of his third round but finished eagle-birdie-birdie to close in on Kjeldsen’s lead.
“I played steady, stroked the ball well and avoided the rough as much as possible,” he said.
“It was a great finish, before those three holes Kjeldsen was six shots ahead and then he was only one. I like to put myself in the position and see what happens, I’m not going to put extra pressure but I’ll try to give myself a chance.
“I know I’m playing well, I finished ninth last week and third in Joburg so I’ll see if I can handle the situation. I’m working on a few things with my coach and seem to be working. I will try to do my best and see what happens”
Forsyth was also at his best on the back nine, posting four birdies without dropping a shot for an inward 32.
He said: “68 was a really really good effort, I made a couple of good putts when I had to, the only par five I birdied was 16th and saved many pars.
“I’m delighted with the score. I felt I lost my rhythm at some point but shots on 16 and 17 were key to keep it going”.
An eagle at the par five 13th was the highlight of 23 year old Del Moral’s round. The Qualifying School graduate, who hails from Valencia, adding a 69 to his opening 70 and second round 67.
He said: “It was a strange day, I had to change the strategy because with the rain, the rough was harder and you had to avoid it. I’ve played well from the tee but it was very tiring mentally round.
“I’ll try to control the beginning of the round, try to go to the centre of the green and give me chances for birdies and to fight for it in the last nine holes. I like the pressure, it may look like if we have a bad time but it is funny, play with pressure is the good part of the game.
“My goal is to play the race to Dubai, I thing you have to set high goals to keep up there, I don’t want to think about saving my card.”
