Andrew Johnston and Pablo Larrazábal were battling it out at the top of the leaderboard as round three of the Real Club Valderrama Open de España, Hosted by the Sergio Garcia Foundation moved towards its conclusion.
The Spaniard came into the weekend two shots clear of Johnston but dropped two shots on the front nine on Saturday while the Englishman turned in 35 to leave both men at one under.
They were the only players under par as Valderrama once again proved devilishly difficult, with Richard Bland and Martin Kaymer level, and Alejandro Cañizares and Mike Lorenzo-Vera a further shot back.
Tournament host Sergio Garcia had said after round two that a score of level par could win the tournament this week, and that could prove accurate with just four players under par for their rounds on day three.
A bogey on the second from Johnston handed Larrazábal a three-shot lead in the early stages, but the four-time European Tour winner bogeyed the next and when Johnston made back-to-back birdies, the second set up by a wonderful approach to the fifth, there was a tie at the top.
A Larrazábal bogey on the sixth moved Johnston into the lead but a ragged tee-shot on the next saw the 27 year old drop a shot and the duo made the turn at one under.
Kaymer spoke coming into the week how he felt he was playing better than he was scoring and the two-time Major Championship winner was the big mover among the leading pack.
Back-to-back birdies on the fourth and fifth were squandered with bogeys on the seventh and ninth, but the German bounced back with two more consecutive gains to get right in the mix.
Bland, seeking a first European Tour win at the 380th attempt, bogeyed the first but then had birdies on the second and fourth to sit level par after ten holes.
Cañizares was one over for his round with Lorenzo-Vera level after both men had also played ten holes.
Pep Angles was then three shots off the lead, with defending champion James Morrison, Joost Luiten and Thomas Pieters a further shot back.
