Eddie Pepperell opened up a one-shot lead as the third round of the weather-delayed Hero Indian Open got under way at DLF Golf and Country Club.
The Englishman had birded three of his last four holes as he completed his second round in the morning but three pars were enough to edge him in front in round three.
They kept him ahead at five under, a shot clear of defending champion SSP Chawrasia, England's David Horsey and Spaniard Carlos Pigem.
Pepperell lost his card last season but reclaimed it at the Qualifying School and is now aiming for a first European Tour win in his first made cut of the season.
Danny Chia had finished his 15 holes in the morning with a birdie to take a share of the lead and he picked up where he left off, holing a ten-footer on the first to claim it outright.
That would not last long, however, as he lost two balls off the tee on the second to record a nine and go tumbling down the leaderboard.
Chawrasia also went backwards on the second as he made a bogey after missing a short putt and a par moved Pepperell into the lead on his own.
Pigem had moved into the group one off the lead with birdies on the first and second - courtesy of a beautiful 15-footer - and Horsey was also at that mark after starting with three pars.
A birdie on the third moved American Paul Peterson to three under alongside Scott Jamieson who made a flying start.
The Scotsman birdied his first two holes and then hit a stunning approach into the par five fourth to set up an eagle chance and two-putt for another gain.
Frenchman Grégory Havret had two birdies in his opening four holes to sit at two under alongside Northern Irishman Michael Hoey and Italy's Matteo Manassero.
Chia was then four shots off the lead at one under with Daniel Brooks and Gavin Green.
Scotland's Duncan Stewart made the ninth hole-in-one of the season in the second round when he holed a six iron from 178 yards at the fifth to win a BMW M3.
