Miles Tunnicliff played himself into contention heading into the final round of the TCL Classic in Sanya after carding a second-consecutive seven-under-par 65 to move to within five shots of runaway leader Chapchai Nirat at the Yalong Bay Golf Club.
The 38-year-old is joined on 16-under-par 200 by Japan's Taichi Teshima after Thailand's Nirat carded a third-round 68.
Tunnicliff, who started the day at nine under after carding an opening-round 70, reached the turn in 34 before carding an eagle three at the 16th to head home in 31.
Nirat, who has led the tournament from the end of the first round after shooting a course-record 61, looked to be heading for a larger overnight lead after reaching the turn in 33 but hit two bogeys to end his round on the island of Hainan.
The 23-year-old struck his tee shot on the par-four 17th into the water before pulling his second at the last into the rough on the left of the green.
Argentina's Rafael Echenique sits on 15 under, a shot clear of Taiwan's Lu Weh Teh, while English duo Oliver Fisher and James Heath join Singapore Open champion Liang Wenchong of China and Australian Brad Kennedy at 13 under.
Lee Westwood carded a third-round 68 to join Liverpool's Nick Dougherty a further shot adrift.
Ireland's Paul McGinley, who narrowly made yesterday's cut, carded a level-par 72 to remain at five under, while England's Simon Hurd failed to build on his second-round 67 and dropped to four under after shooting a two-over-par 74.
