Matt Wallace will take a three shot lead into the final round of the Open de Portugal at Morgado Golf Resort as he looks to carry his winning form on to the European Tour.
The 27 year old was promoted to the Challenge Tour after winning six times on the Alps Tour last term, including a run of five successive victories.
Wallace had retained his five shot overnight advantage when the second round was completed this morning, but admitted to struggling in the wind in Portimão as a third round 73 left the door slightly ajar for the chasing pack.
"It wasn't very good today, I lost a bit of rhythm out there and just struggled really to get it round," said the Englishman, who lies on 17 under par with three holes remaining.
"I'd have liked to have been a couple better and that would have given me more of a cushion going into tomorrow.
"It is what it is and I'm going to prepare as well as I can for tomorrow."
Two opening pars at the start of his third round saw Wallace take his bogey-free run to 38 holes, but having overcome a bogey on the third with a gain at the next, the Englishman dropped another shot at the sixth.
Wallace birdied the ninth for the third time this week to turn in a level par 36, but both of his gains on the back nine were swiftly followed by bogeys.
German Sebastian Heisele closed within three with a third round 71, with England's Sam Walker third on 13 under after producing seven birdies in his 68.
Wallace hopes that his recent experiences in the winner's circle will prepare him for Sunday.
"I've been playing great, I've been giving it my best, I'm really looking forward to the situation tomorrow," he added.
"It could have been much worse out there for me today; I battled really hard and made some good putts to save some pars. Hopefully I can put as much effort in tomorrow as I did today and play a bit better and hopefully I'll be here tomorrow with the trophy.
"I've been playing great, I've been giving it my best, I'm really looking forward to the situation tomorrow." - Matt Wallace
"This week is the best I've probably played ever so I'm going to take that confidence into tomorrow. Hopefully play as well as I did the first two days.
"I'm very confident, I'm just going to do my game, not worry about what else happens and hopefully with the lead I've got it will be enough.
"It is big but I try and dumb it down as much as possible - it's just golf and I'm just going to go and give it my best."
Heisele, who finished 28th on the Challenge Tour last season, hopes a fast start can apply some pressure to the leader.
"I didn’t play as well as I did for the first two days, so I’ll need something low tomorrow," he said.
"Matt is just going to keep doing his thing. I’ll try to get a few shots back tomorrow, early obviously to build some pressure, and take it from there."
