Thorbjørn Olesen produced a commanding third round display to establish a three shot lead at the ISPS HANDA Perth International.
The 24 year old Dane had spoken on Friday of his belief that a second European Tour title was overdue, and set about fulfilling that prophecy with three birdies in his first four holes at Lake Karrinyup.
Further gain followed at the 11th, 12th and 14th, before the former Sicilian Open winner dropped his only shot of the day at the 15th.
That led to a five under par 67 and a 16 under par total, three ahead of nearest challenger Sihwan Kim.
And afterwards Olesen warned those in pursuit that he had not been at his best.
“I tried to go out there and be aggressive like I did the first two days, but I didn't have the game today,” he said. “I didn't feel good - I was struggling out there. I made some great up and downs to keep it going.
“It was a fight all the way through, but I still had fun and I was fighting all the way. Five under is a great score today.
“It's been a couple of years since I won, so definitely I'll feel the nerves. I've been in contention in big tournaments and I know how it feels. But it'll be great to get that victory, so it'll definitely be on my mind.
“I just want to be out there tomorrow, be aggressive, and have fun.”
Kim is looking to make it consecutive Korean wins in Perth following Jin Jeong’s triumph 12 months ago, and is playing under the added pressure of fighting to keep his European Tour card.
Only the top 111 players on The Race to Dubai at close of play tomorrow will retain their playing privileges for next season, and at 138th in the current standings the Challenge Tour graduate needs a top-two finish.
The same is true for overnight leader Peter Whiteford, who started the week 149th, but despite birdieing the first hole the Scot could only manage a 75 which left him seven shots back.
James Morrison followed Friday’s course record 63 with a 69 to move into third on 12 under, with America’s Peter Uihlein a shot further back after a round of 65.
Having seen Whiteford briefly double his one shot lead with a birdie from six feet at the first, Olesen followed him in from close range and drew level when he chipped in at the long third for an unlikely birdie.
The World Number 130, who at 64th in The Race to Dubai looks set to make sure of his place in the top 60 ahead of next month’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, converted from 12 feet at the next to snatch the outright lead and was soon three ahead despite a run of six straight pars.
That was because Whiteford dropped shots at the sixth and seventh, and although the 34 year old gained a shot at the ninth from close range, he handed straight back at the next.
A regulation birdie at the long 11th was followed by a tee shot to inside five feet at the 12th for Olesen, who made it three gains in four holes when he two-putted the driveable 14th, before lipping out from 20 feet or his only dropped shot of the day at the next.
“I think it gives you a lot of confidence when you're there on Sunday and you know you played well because you're in contention,” added Olesen. “I think you take that with you and bring it out on the course and keep believing in yourself.
“In the end it's just golf - it's supposed to be fun to play. It's work, but it's great work. It's a lot of fun to play. So if you hit a bad shot, you just to have step back and think about it.”
Sunday will not be much fun for the man in the firing line for those trying to keep their cards, 111th-ranked Matthew Nixon, but he eased his fears of a return to Qualifying School as a round of 69 took him to six under.
His nearest pursuers to make the cut, 116 David Drysdale and 117 Carlos del Moral, shot rounds of 71 and 69 respectively and lie tied fifth and tied 33rd – both need at least top-16 finishes.
