Local favourite Francesco Molinari shared the lead with Danny Willett as the third round of the weather-affected Italian Open was completed on Sunday morning.
Lengthy weather delays on days one and two meant we were playing catch-up at Golf Club Milano but clear skies on Saturday allowed for a full day's play and the final round was set to get under way at 1035 on day four.
Play got started at 0730 and Molinari - aiming for a second victory in his national Open after his 2006 triumph - picked up three shots in his remaining eight holes to get to 16 under.
A brilliant hole-out from a bunker on the last had moved the 33 year old ahead but Masters Tournament champion Willett made a third birdie of the morning on the 17th to join him at the summit.
"I hit a bad drive on 15 that cost me a bogey but apart from that I played well," said Molinari. "I holed twice from outside the green so the short game is in good shape.
"It's great to be in this position this week, everyone is really excited now and I'm looking forward to the next round.
"I'm really happy to have put myself in the position I am right now, it's going to be tough this afternoon with Danny and all the other great players at the top of the leaderboard but it's great to be up there with the people cheering me on."
It's great to be in this position this week, everyone is really exblockquoted now and I'm looking forward to the next round - Francesco Molinari
Overnight leader Alexander Levy signed for a 63 to sit at 15 under alongside England's Chris Paisley, one shot clear of another Englishman in Richard Bland and Swede Robert Karlsson.
Englishman Matthew Fitzpatrick and Spaniard Alejandro Cañizares were then at 12 under, a shot ahead of Spain's Nacho Elvira with ten players five shots off the lead.
Despite the early start, the crowds were already building and Molinari gave them something to shout about on the 11th, holing a chip to get to 14 under and when Levy got in trouble off the tee on the 13th, the Italian held the lead.
He was soon joined by Willett, though, as the Englishman put his tee-shot on the par three tenth to eight feet and hit the summit.
Frenchman Levy took advantage of the 14th to make it a three-way tie, with playing partners Bland and Karlsson doing the same to sit just a shot off the top.
Paisley then got his tee-shot on the par three 12th to three feet and all of a sudden it was very congested as he too got to 14 under.
Molinari was the man to break out of the pack, birdieing the 14th, but he gave the shot back after getting into bunker trouble on the next and Karlsson moved into that leading group with an eight-foot putt on the 17th.
The 503 yard par five 14th was playing as the easiest hole on the course - yielding over 200 birdies so far - and Willett and Paisley both made gains to get to 15 under.
Molinari was having a rollercoaster morning and hit a stunning approach for a tap-in birdie on the 16th, while ahead on the last Levy made a closing birdie for a 63 and a share of the lead once more.
Bland also made a birdie on the last as he chipped in from a bunker and he and Karlsson both signed for rounds of 65 before Molinari and Willett produced their late drama.
"It was good but it felt like it was a little bit stale," said Willett. "I hit a lot of good golf shots, hit a few iffy ones in there and had a good few chances.
"I'm moving in the right direction, still right up there at the top so we'll see what the afternoon brings.
I'm moving in the right direction, still right up there at the top so we'll see what the afternoon brings - Danny Willett
"I think round this golf course you've to take it as it comes. It could be a day where level is a good score, it could be a day where you have to shoot five or six under so I don't think you can set too much out."
This week is proving a successful tune up for Europe's Ryder Cup players, with Willett, Fitzpatrick, Rafa Cabrera Bello, Andy Sullivan and Chris Wood all in the top ten and Martin Kaymer at nine under.
