The 27-year-old carded seven birdies in a near-flawless display for a 16-under-par total of 194 and a two-stroke cushion ahead of joint overnight leader Robert-Jan Derksen.
Frenchman Gregory Bourdy conjured up a seven-under-par 63 to snatch sole possession of the lead after the third round of the Hong Kong Open on Saturday.
The 27-year-old carded seven birdies in a near-flawless display for a 16-under-par total of 194 and a two-stroke cushion ahead of joint overnight leader Robert-Jan Derksen.
Dutchman Derksen fired a 65 while Britain's Rory McIlroy went third on 11 under par after a 65 of his own, boosting his chances of overtaking Lee Westwood at the top of Europe's money list.
Westwood returned a 69 to end his challenge and leave him tied for 33rd on five under par at the $2.5 million tournament co-sanctioned by the European and Asian tours.
The Race to Dubai leader continued to struggle on his debut at Fanling, the Briton's hopes of keeping pace with McIlroy dented by three bogeys on the front nine. Bourdy was delighted after a superb putting performance.
"It was a fantastic round -- one of my best ever rounds," Bourdy told reporters. "I am going to try and keep my putter warm because it was unbelievable today.
"If I play under par (tomorrow) I will have a big chance," added the Frenchman, who won the last of his two European Tour titles in Estoril last year. Taiwan's Lin Wen-tang, who beat McIlroy in a playoff to win last year''s Hong Kong Open, produced a 67 to join three others on 10 under, including twice former champion Miguel Angel Jimenez.
Spanish fire
The Spaniard showed the kind of form that brought him Hong Kong Open crowns in 2004 and 2007 with a sizzling 63 to take the early clubhouse lead. McIlroy admitted he might need some more final-round fireworks to add to his maiden professional victory at February's Dubai Desert Classic.
"I was in a similar position last year and shot a 65 to get into the playoff," said the Northern Irishman, who trails Westwood by around $80,000 in the money rankings. "I will have to do something like that or even better tomorrow. My mindset is to get off to a fast start and try to keep it going."
Victory would put McIlroy in the driving seat in the battle to scoop the $1.5 million bonus on offer for Europe's number one at the season-ending Dubai World Championship. "I'm just thinking about the tournament," insisted the 20-year-old.
"I'm behind Gregory Bourdy. That's all I'm worried about." Ireland's Peter Lawrie and Italian Francesco Molinari mirrored each other's scores for the third day running with 66s to join Lin and Jimenez on 10-under 200, six off the lead.
The top 60 players in the European money list contest next week's $7.5 million Dubai World Championship, which also offers an added $7.5 bonus for the leading 15.
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