Swede Peter Hanson birdied the first to take over the lead during the early stages of the final round of the Iberdrola Open Cala Millor Mallorca.
With overnight leaders Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño and Pelle Edberg dropping two and three shots respectively over their opening three holes, Hanson went top on three under par.
Three successive pars saw him one under through four, one clear of South African James Kingston and Spanish duo Fernandez-Castaño and Alejandro Cañizares.
England's Chris Wood - fourth and third in the last two Open Championships - remained level par through his first four holes at Pula to sit level with Edberg on one under.
Scotland's George Murray had shown good scoring was possible earlier in the day with a four under 66, which set the clubhouse target at four over.
That left Murray tied for 21st, but with much of the field going backwards in testing conditions his position was likely to improve.
