Spain's Jose Rivero emerged as the third round leader of the Estoril Open after another blustery day when few players mustered a challenge for the top spot.
Rivero was one of only a handful players to break par at Penha Longa, his two under par 70 giving him total of 214, two under, to lead by one from Denmark's Soren Kjeldsen.
After the first round 13 players were under par. That number had fallen to eight by the halfway stage and by the end of the third round's play only Rivero and Kjeldsen were in the red figures.
Now, following hot on the heels of the success of Jose Maria Olazabal and Sergio Garcia at the Masters Tournament last week, Rivero is poised to continue the Spanish success story.
Rivero said: "I'm very happy to be leading. I have played very well for the past three days. It's very difficult out there."
The 43-year-old veteran of two winning Ryder Cup teams last won a tournament in 1992 - the Open Catalonia. "Seven years ago was my last win," he added. "That's a long time so I'm hoping to return to winning again."
A shot adrift is Kjeldsen after a level par 72. The Dane kept his playing privileges for 1999 at the last gasp by finishing joint 12th in the British Masters, earning enough money to finish 115th in the Volvo Order of Merit.
Three players are on level par, Sweden's Niclas Fasth, England's Gary Emerson and local hero Sean Corte-Real, who is bidding to become the first Portuguese player since Daniel Silva in 1992 to win a European Tour event.
The 25-year-old Corte-Real, who has the distinction of playing with Tiger Woods when at college in America, shot a best-of-the-day 69 thanks to four birdies and only one dropped shot.
