Low scoring was the order of the day at Penha Longa Golf Club as the race for the Estoril Open de Portugal started to heat up.
Australian Richard Green and Welshman Bradley Dredge were both six under after 11 holes to top the leaderboard on 14 under.
That was one ahead of English Amateur Champion Luke Goddard, who was six under after 12, and Dane Thomas Björn, the joint overnight leader one under after seven holes.
Left-hander Green picked up consecutive birdies from the second and sixth before hitting his approach shot within ten feet on the ninth for another gain.
Dredge enjoyed an eagle at the par five eighth and converted his eight foot birdie chance at the next en route to a front nine 31.
Goddard, playing only his third European Tour event, eagled the sixth then birdied the seventh for the third time this week.
The 22 year old picked up another shot at the tenth, then nailed his three wood approach within three feet to the par five 12th for a second eagle of the round.
Pre-tournament favourite Chris Wood, Argentina's Daniel Vancsik and Ireland's Damien McGrane and England's Robert Rock were all well in the hunt on 12 under.
