Australian Peter O'Malley produced a marvellous start to charge from five behind to two in front at the French Open, at Le Golf National near Paris today.
The 38-year-old resumed on five under par, but birdied the first three holes and then picked up further strokes on the fifth, eighth and ninth to turn in a brilliant 30.
As he did that overnight leader Thomas Bjorn, round in 64 yesterday, three-putted the short second and at nine under fell back alongside Luton's Philip Golding and German Marcel Siem, who had already finished with a 64.
Dubliner Peter Lawrie shot a round of 67 to keep himself in the frame on seven under par while Graeme McDowell is just one shot behind him after nine holes of his third round.
It was a mixed bag the remaining Irish contingent, led by Paul McGinley on four under after a 69. Veteran Ronan Rafferty is just one shot behind after a 71, while Gary Murphy shot his second 74 of the tournament to stay level par, after an opening round of 68.
Golding is the 40-year-old who has paid a record 16 trips to the tour qualifying school, the most recent of them last November, but a 14-foot birdie putt on the first kept him on course for his best-ever performance.
"I've very nearly packed in a couple of times and to win would be a complete dream," said Golding, who resumed today two strokes behind Danish Ryder Cup player Thomas Bjorn.
"I know I'll get nervous because I always do, but I draw strength from people like Malcolm Mackenzie and Roger Chapman, who have shown what is possible.
Both were also 40 when they tasted victory for the first time - Chapman on his 472nd start in Brazil three years ago and Mackenzie at the 509th attempt in the French Open at the same Le Golf National course last season.
Golding is playing his 201st tour event, but the wait has been just as long in terms of years and filled with more tension than any sportsman deserves to face.
He turned professional in 1981, but it took him 10 tries to make it onto the circuit in the first place.
This year is threatening to be his best-ever. He lies 79th with almost €100,000 and has seven top 30 finishes already.
But it has not been without its rollercoaster ride. In Qatar he would have finished fifth but for a four-stroke penalty for carrying an extra club in his bag. He dropped to 14th because of it.
"My goal at the start of every year is to retain my card, but now I can set a higher one - to qualify for the Volvo Masters in November." That is purely for the top 50 on the money list this time.
Victory tomorrow would earn him over €290,000 - almost his entire career earnings prior to this year - but he says: "It would mean an awful lot besides that.