Englishmen David Lynn and Danny Willett shared a two-stroke lead on 13-under 203 after the third round of the Austrian Open on Saturday.
Three players are on 205, including European Ryder Cup team member Graeme McDowell.
The 37-year-old Lynn, who is without a European Tour win since the 2004 Dutch Open, shot an 8-under 64 with an eagle and four birdies in six holes from the 10th.
Lynn, 99th on the money list this season, was surprised at his round.
''It came out of the blue,'' Lynn said. ''It was my best round of the year by far.''
Willett, one of the biggest hitters on tour, took advantage of an ideal low scoring day with no wind and soft greens to shoot a 7-under 65 with an eagle and seven birdies. He lost the chance of the outright lead when he drove into trees at the 16th hole.
''The conditions were perfect,'' Willett said. ''It's nice to be contention and it would be nice to get my first win on tour, but it is only my second season out here and and I have got to be patient.''
McDowell appears to be rediscovering his form before the Ryder Cup in October. He shot a second straight 4-under 68 to reach 11-under but the Northern Irishman was left to regret missing a short birdie putt on the 17th green which would have taken him even closer to the lead.
England's Chris Gane (66) and Sweden's Pelle Edberg (68) shared third place with McDowell.
One of the rounds of the day belonged to Matthias Schwab, a 15-year-old schoolboy Austrian amateur international.
Although he bogeyed the last hole, Schwab had five birdies in a second straight 69 and at 8-under he will go into the final round in joint 9th place.
Overnight leader John Parry, chasing a top-ten finish on Sunday to earn his 2011 tour card, shot a four-over 72 and is five strokes behind the leaders.
