Thongchai Jaidee extended his lead to three shots as the final round of the 100th Open de France got under way at Le Golf National.
The Thai came into the final day with a two-shot lead after producing the only bogey-free round of the day on Saturday and he continued where he left off to move to nine under after three holes.
Jaidee was a picture of consistency in round three while those around him jostled for position and that was the theme once again with Francesco Molinari the man making a positive charge through the field.
Molinari made four birdies in a row from the third to get to six under and within two of the lead but Jaidee then rolled a beautiful putt close from the fringe on the par five third to edge further ahead.
World Number Four Rory McIlroy had dropped back to five under after getting in trouble on the same hole and missing a short putt, with Martin Kaymer and Joost Luiten alongside him four off the lead.
Luiten had birdies on the third and fifth while Kaymer birdied the second after a brilliant tee-shot and followed that up on the fifth.
Defending champion Bernd Wiesberger, Alex Noren, Brandon Stone and Andy Sullivan were then all a further shot back.
South Korea's Jeunghun Wang had started the day two shots off the lead but double-bogeyed the second after finding the water and then dropped a shot on the third.
Ross Fisher was the clubhouse leader at one over after a 68.
