Aaron Rai's advantage had been reduced to a single shot as he reached the turn on day three of the Honma Hong Kong Open presented by Amundi.
The Englishman began the day four strokes clear of nearest rival Hyowon Park after breaking the course record at Hong Kong Golf Club with a blemish-free 61 on Friday.
But South Korean Park had closed the gap to just one shot after nine holes on Saturday after carding four birdies and a single bogey to climb to 13 under par.
Rai remained at 14 under after following up a birdie at the fourth with his first bogey of the week at the tricky ninth.
Matthew Fitzpatrick, the other man in the final group, was alone in third on 11 under, while Ryder Cup stars Sergio Garcia and Tommy Fleetwood were in a tie for fourth three shots further back.
Park made a fast start to his third round, notching birdies at the second and third holes to cut Rai's lead to two strokes.
But the halfway leader tapped in from within five feet for a birdie at the fourth to move to 15 under and extend his lead to three shots.
Park sank his 15-foot birdie putt at the sixth before repeating the trick from around ten feet at the next to get to 14 under and within one of Rai.
But his first bogey of the day at the eighth gave Rai breathing space at the summit once more before the 23 year old failed to get up and down from a bunker at the ninth to drop his first shot of the tournament so far.
