Ian Poulter shot a 6-under 64 for a two-shot lead through three rounds at the Hong Kong Open.
The Englishman followed up his second-round 60 by sinking birdies on the final two holes of the third round, pulling clear of U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell and Englishman Simon Dyson.
Poulter holed out from 20 feet for a birdie on 18 to a huge cheer from the crowd.
However it was McDowell who had possibly the shot of the day, and certainly one of the best rounds of the day with a 63.
The 31-year-old Northern Irishman drove the green at the 10th, which was shortened for the third round to 287 yards, before making a long putt. That began an impressive back nine that brought consecutive birdies at the 13th, 14th and 15th holes.
McDowell's fellow Ulsterman Rory McIlroy - runner-up in 2008 and 2009 - is a shot further back in a tie for fourth with American Anthony Kang.
First-round leader Mark Brown was next at 14 under, tied with India's Jeev Milkha Singh.
