Thomas Levet was holding his own during the third round of the Open de España as the Frenchman extended his lead to three shots.
Levet cancelled out two bogeys with back-to-back birdies at the sixth and seventh to reach the turn level par for the day and remain 13 under for the week.
His nearest challenger at the start of the day, Dane Søren Hansen, had dropped two shots on the way out and was now back amongst the chasing pack in a three-way tie for third.
Hansen’s round again came unstuck at the par four ninth – the scene of a double bogey in the second round – where he ended up taking seven shots.
That left The Ryder Cup player level with clubhouse leader, Fabrizio Zanotti of Paraguay, and England’s Stuart Davis.
Defending champion Peter Lawrie parred his first ten holes to remain ten under and climb to second place.
Zanotti climbed the leaderboard with a six under round of 66, while Challenge Tour graduate Davis was two under for the day at the turn to reach nine under.
