Francesco Molinari made an early birdie to edge into a one-shot lead in the final round of the BMW PGA Championship.
The Italian was a runner-up here last season in the inaugural Rolex Series event and has five top tens in his last six appearances at Wentworth Club.
He carded a 66 on Saturday thanks to some wonderful iron play and an excellent approach to the third helped move him to 14 under on Sunday morning, one shot ahead of 2014 champion and co-overnight leader Rory McIlroy.
Thai Kiradech Aphibarnrat was then at 11 under, a shot clear of defending champion Alex Noren and England's Robert Rock.
A nice tee-shot from Rock on the second set up a birdie and a monster putt on the par five fourth led to an eagle that got him into double figures and second place on his own.
Noren - who came from seven back with a closing 62 to win last season - joined him after an excellent approach set up a five-foot birdie on the third.
Aphibarnrat then followed the lead of Rock, holing a huge putt on the fourth after a birdie on the second to get to 11 under.
That was soon three off the lead, however, as Molinari hit a wonderful approach into the third and holed an eight-footer for birdie.
McIlroy had been erratic off the tee - going right on both the first and third - but scrambled well to start with three pars.
Dane Lucas Bjerregaard, English trio Sam Horsfield, Matt Wallace and Lee Westwood, Frenchman Sébastien Gros and Swede Marcis Kinhult were all five shots off the lead.
