Spaniard Borja Etchart set a blistering pace to storm up the leaderboard on the third morning of the Open de Andalucía Costa del Sol.
After two rounds of one under 71, Etchart began the day down in a tie for 41st place, but by the time he made the turn he was on seven under for the tournament, one shot off compatriot Eduardo De La Riva's lead.
Etchart cancelled out his second-hole birdie with a bogey on the fourth hole that also troubled him on Thursday.
But he responded to that in outstanding fashion with five straight birdies, including on the par three eighth, to rocket up the standings.
Among the other early starters, Ireland's Shane Lowry briefly threatened an assault on the leaders as he eagled the par four third between birdies on the second and fourth to making an outstanding start.
But he could not maintain that pace, and was still on four under for the round, three shots off the lead, as he reached the 13th tee.
His efforts were being matched by Alejandro Cañizares, who was on four under as he tackled the 16th hole, his hopes of closing on the leaders hit by a double bogey on the 13th, marring a morning highlighted by a run of three straight birdies on the ninth, tenth and 11th.
