Tyrrell Hatton posted a record-equalling 61 at the Old Course at St Andrews to take a one-shot lead into the final round as he stepped up his bid to become the first three-time winner of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Hatton, who won this event in 2016 and 2017 and has also recorded two runners-up finishes, continued his love affair with the unique tournament by firing an eagle and nine birdies at the Home of Golf to tie Ross Fisher's course record.
Overnight co-leader Nicolas Colsaerts was alone in second spot one stroke further back after shooting a spectacular 65 at Kingsbarns Golf Links which featured a memorable albatross.
Starting the day three shots off the lead after opening rounds of 65 and 68 at Carnoustie and Kingsbarns respectively, Hatton produced a brilliant burst of scoring on the front nine to grab a share of the lead after six holes.
But Belgian Colsaerts then made an albatross and a birdie in successive holes to move five clear at the top.
With a double bogey at the Belgian's very next hole opening the door for the chasing pack, Hatton walked right through it with four birdies on the spin from the 12th to get within one of the lead.
And Hatton finished with a flourish, carding back-to-back birdies on the 17th and 18th to join Fisher in the history books and lead heading into the fourth round, which will also be at St Andrews.
The highlight of the day came from Colsaerts, with his albatross coming from 223 yards at Kingsbarns' 16th.
Using a six iron, he drilled the ball up to the slope behind the pin and watched on as it rolled back into the cup for a two at the par five.
Frenchman Tom Vaillant sits in solo third on 19 under after his 64 at Kingsbarns.
Hatton kicked off his round with back-to-back pars before holing from around nine feet for birdies at the third and fourth.
The Ryder Cup star then slotted in his eagle putt from 11 feet on the long fifth before making another birdie at the sixth to join Colsaerts at the summit on 16 under.
But as Colsaerts' round burst into life, Hatton's did the opposite as he made five straight pars.
That all changed from the 12th, though, as he drained his 42-foot birdie putt from the bottom of a slope before rolling in from 16 feet on the next.
He made it a hat-trick of birdies on the 14th before a great approach from the rough at the 15th set up a fourth successive gain.
Hatton saved his best for last as a wonderful approach on the 17th led to a tap-in birdie there before he closed his round with a ten-foot birdie putt in front of big crowds at the 18th.
He said: "I was just taking each hole as it came and just trying to make as many birdies as I could.
"I had actually shot ten under here before. I can't remember if it was 2016, the year that I won.
"So yeah, I really wanted to birdie the last. That's actually my lowest round on Tour as well. Felt like I was trying harder than I normally would for a putt on the last. Good putt and thankfully it went in. It was a cool day."
Hatton, who also leads the team event alongside his father Jeff on 38 under, is looking forward to Sunday's final round.
He added: "This is the third time I've played with my dad in this event. We had not made the cut until now in the team event.
"I'm sure he's excited for tomorrow, although a bit scared, and he'll be pretty tired, I'm sure.
"Four rounds of golf in four days is a lot of work, especially for my dad.
"So yeah, it will be fun. I'm excited to give it my best. I know I'm capable of winning around here, and ultimately I'll just try my best each time and see how we go."
