A hat-trick of birdies catapulted defending champion SSP Chawrasia clear at the top of the leaderboard as the third round of the Hero Indian Open was completed on Sunday morning.
The local favourite had to return to finish seven holes at DLF Golf and Country Club after lightning delays on days one and two but showed no adverse effects as he birdied the 13th, 14th and 15th to get to nine under
Spaniard Carlos Pigem had entered day four in a share of the lead but after missing a birdie putt on the 12th upon the resumption, he would pick up just one further shot on the 15th and was two shots behind the leader.
A win for Chawrasia on Sunday afternoon would continue a remarkable record in his national Open where he has has four runners-up finishes as well as last season's victory.
He will be looking to become the first player to win their first four European Tour events in their home country and the first to successfully defend a title since Branden Grace at the 2016 Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.
"I feel great, honestly," he said. "I didn't believe I can make three birdies this morning but I made some good putts. I'm really happy.
"It's a long day but I'm just talking to myself to keep calm and keep playing.
"On 14, I made a good chip, was on line and hit the flag and went in.
"I feel nervous but have to try to relax. Otherwise I won't be able to play this golf course."
Malaysia's Gavin Green chipped in on the 17th in the twilight on Saturday for a birdie and he picked up where he left off by birdieing the last to get to six under, three shots clear of Northern Ireland's Michael Hoey and Italy's Matteo Manassero.
Manassero birdied the 15th and 17th upon the resumption to move up the leaderboard while Hoey was heading the other way with a bogey-birdie-bogey finish.
Scotsman Scott Jamieson dropped a shot on the 15th to slip to two under, a shot clear of overnight clubhouse leader Peter Uihlein.
Rafa Cabrera Bello, George Coetzee, Jens Fahrbring, Grégory Havret, David Horsey, Anirban Lahiri and Prom Meesawat were then all at level par.
Eddie Pepperell had entered the day in a share of the lead but made two doubles and three bogeys in his last seven holes to drop to one over.
