Michael Hoey surged into a share of the lead in the final round of the Estoril Open de Portugal as the leaderboard opened up dramatically at Oitavos Dunes.
Hoey fired four birdies in his first ten holes on the final day to surge up an astonishingly tight leaderboard to take a share of the lead with David Lynn.
Overnight leader Paul Broadhurst registered two early bogeys to slip back to five under, where he was joined by no less than four other golfers in a tie for second.
Of the early starters Hoey was first to make his move as he fired in three birdies during his first nine holes, going on to pick up another birdie at the par four tenth hole.
David Dixon and Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño were also enjoying solid rounds as they made it to two two under par approaching the turn.
Francesco Molinari was also two under for his round as he and six others on four under par tried to keep in touch.
Mikael Lundberg and Jamie Donaldson - who suffered an inauspicious start with two bogeys in the first three holes - were a further shot back on three under par.
The chasing pack on three under - who numbered five golfers in total - were also looking to stake their claim on a thrilling final round.
Among them was Carlos Del Moral and clubhouse leader Rafa Echenique, who carded a sublime fiver under par 66 earlier in the day.
