Eddie Pepperell saw his lead cut to two shots as he opened with three pars in the final round of the Sky Sports British Masters.
In pouring rain at Walton Heath Golf Club, the home favourite stayed at nine under, a shot clear of countryman Jordan Smith, Swede Alexander Björk and Frenchman Julien Guerrier.
Australian Lucas Herbert, American Julian Suri and England's Matt Wallace were then at six under.
Pepperell is looking to become the season's first wire-to-wire winner as he seeks his second European Tour title after victory at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters in February.
Wallace holed a 15-footer on the first and a slightly longer putt on the second to get within three of the lead, while Pepperell did well to save par on his opener after sending his tee-shot and his second down the left.
Smith then became the first man to trim the lead as he got on the green at the par five second in two and got down in two putts for a first birdie of the day.
In the group behind Guerrier went one better, holing a monster putt for eagle to get to eight under and within one of Pepperell.
The leader battled to save par again on the second, with playing partner Björk making a birdie to get to seven under where he was alongside Guerrier, who bogeyed the third.
Herbert made birdies on the second, fourth, fifth and sixth in his first seven holes, while Suri was level par for his opening three.
Sam Horsfield was at five under, a shot clear of Lucas Bjerregaard and Clément Sordet.
