Graeme McDowell is only two off the pace after a round of 68 - that included a 50 foot birdie putt on the 14th - at the Barclays Singapore Open but still trails three players – Adam Scott, Ian Poulter and Kyung-nam Kang - who carded more birdies on the day.
At the end of day three Adam Scott of Australia holds a one shot lead over defending champion Ian Poulter and Korea's Kyung-nam Kang at the Barclays Singapore Open after a dramatic third round at Sentosa Golf Club.
The Australian had started the day with a two shot lead but was dragged into an epic tussle with playing partner Poulter down the back nine of the Serapong Course, with the 2005 and 2006 winner eventually emerging with the narrowest of leads.
The 30 year old signed for a round of 69 - 14 under par - while Poulter carded two birdies and an eagle in a round of 68.
World Number 567 Kang is also right in the frame having seemingly been out of the running when he ran up a double bogey seven at the seventh - only to finish with a back nine of 30 shots.
Both Scott and Poulter opened their accounts with birdies at the par three second, the Englishman hitting his tee shot to within six feet.
But Scott bogeyed the next and despite a birdie at the par five fourth found himself level at the top of the leader board when Poulter eagled the same hole.
Six-time European Tour winner Scott went back in front with a birdie at the seventh after hitting his approach to four feet, but there was a decisive swing at the tenth as Poulter went ahead for the first time.
The Ryder Cup star sunk a 20 foot birdie putt, while Scott missed his par effort from five feet.
Although Poulter then produced a series of clutch putts there was nothing he could do to rescue par with wayward tee shot at the par three 14th. And Scott regained the outright lead when he drained a 12 footer at the 16th for birdie.
The former World Number Three could have held an even bigger advantage - at the par five last Poulter caught a flyer with his approach and was left with a near-impossible downhill birdie putt, while Scott's magnificent approach stopped five feet from the pin.
But the Australian misread the line, and Poulter once again bravely holed from a similar distance to save par and tee up an enthralling final day.
It is far from a two-horse race, however, with Kang's masterful approach to within three feet on the 18th highlighting the 27 year old's talent in a 67 that included eight birdies.
Martin Kaymer is tied for 14th on seven under.
Dane Anders Hansen produced a best-of-the-day 65 to hold fifth on 11 under, one shot ahead of Wales' Jamie Donaldson.
Peter Lawrie signed for a 68 for a 7 under par total after eagling the par 5 seventh hole.
Michael Hoey was home in 76 following double bogeys on holes 4 and 7 to fall back to one under par.
Shane Lowry lost the momentum of Friday with a third round 75 – including a double at the second - to drop back to one over par.
Gareth Maybin returned an uncharacteristic card 79 - considering his form of recent weeks - following double bogeys at the 4th, 7th and 13th with two more dropped shots on the day to end two over par overall.
Earlier in the day Irish players missed the cut when they completed their weather delayed second round on Saturday morning.
