Italy’s Matteo Manassero raced into a two shot lead during the third round of the Barclays Singapore Open.
The European Tour’s youngest ever winner, Manassero was looking to follow-up on last year’s victory in neighbouring Malaysia at Sentosa GC.
The 19 year old had four birdies in a row from the fourth to turn in 31 and a birdie at the tenth took the World Number 85 to ten under par for the week and two clear as the tournament made up for time lost to thunderstorms on the first two days.
Overnight leader Thomas Björn had reached ten under himself when a bogey at the fifth was followed by back-to-back birdies, but the 41 year old Dane dropped shots at the 11th and 12th.
As a result he slipped back to eight under with five holes remaining, level with former Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen; the South African five under for his round with one to play.
England’s Chris Wood was a shot further back in fourth as the he chases a maiden European Tour title after 17 top-ten finishes, with Dutchman Joost Luiten occupying fifth spot on six under.
Oosthuizen birdied the last for a 65 and to close the gap to one, but Manassero matched that effort to restore his advantage.
The news was not so good for Björn, however, who bogeyed the 14th and 16th to slip back to six under – five behind.
There was no time to dwell on his performance, though; with no redraw for the final round the players were sent straight back out.
