Mikko Korhonen made an early birdie to open up a one-shot lead on the final day of the Portugal Masters at Victoria Clube de Golfe.
The Finn entered the tournament needing a top 26 finish to have a chance of keeping his card for next season but after fighting his way into the final group for the first time in his career over the first three days, he was now aiming for a maiden win.
A gain on the second moved him to 19 under and gave him a slender advantage over defending champion Andy Sullivan, three-time Major Championship winner Padraig Harrington and the semi-retired Anders Hansen.
David Lipsky, Chris Paisley, Justin Walters and Marc Warren were then three shots off the lead.
Sullivan's average score for his last seven rounds in Vilamoura is 65.4 and his mission to go low again got off to the perfect start as he birdied the first and second with putts of ten and eight feet to jump into a share of the lead.
His spell in a share did not last long, however, as Korhonen birdied the second for the third day in a row from 25 feet to jump out to 19 under, with playing-partner Harrington also making a gain after a stunning bunker shot to take a share of second.
Walters holed a 40-foot putt on the last here three years ago to keep his playing privileges and he was surging through the field, picking up seven shots in his first 13 holes.
Lipsky was two under through his first four holes, with Warren one under for the day and Paisley at level par.
Oliver Fisher - 114th in the Race to Dubai - was on course to keep his card at 15 under but Richard McEvoy and Brett Rumford in the group behind were still chasing birdies to avoid a trip to Qualifying School.
