Peter Lawrie carded the lowest round of day three with eight birdies on Saturday at the Omega European Masters in Switzerland – without dropping a shot – to finish on 9 under and remain in an eight way share of 7th place ahead of Sunday’s final round at Crans-sur-Sierre.
The Dubliner is still eight shots off the leader Miguel Angel Jiménez of Spain.
Despite holding on to his overnight lead the Spaniard had a costly error when he picked his ball up because it was near a sprinkler head, but did not check if it was in the way and ended up putting the ball back in the same spot turning his third round 67 into a 68 - the same as Molinari – for a 17 under total.
"It's a pity," said Jimenez, thinking back to the incident at the tenth."I marked it and picked it up like it is preferred lies. Then I thought 'what are you doing?'
"But I'm still feeling good. It's very difficult to follow up a really low score. Anything you do looks like you are doing nothing."
Molinari is hoping to make it back-to-back wins before he takes three weeks off to rest and then prepare for his Ryder Cup debut alongside his brother Francesco. He hit his tee shot on the driveable par four seventh to within six feet of the flag – but missed the eagle putt. Then birdied the next two to be out in 32 like Jiménez.
One shot further back in joint third are his 17 year old compatriot Matteo Manassero and England's Steve Webster.
A top-five finish might well be enough for Manassero to earn a card for next season from the six starts he has so far had as a professional and a third round 69 keeps alive his hopes of becoming The European Tour's youngest-ever champion.
Webster moved into the picture with a superb 64 highlighted by an eagle on the 15th and the second best round of the day.
After making the cut with nothing to spare, Peter Lawrie - beaten in a play-off in the Czech Republic only a fortnight ago - burst from 61st to seventh with his round of 63.
Darren Clarke was three under for the day signing for a 68 to finish one shot behind Lawrie on eight under.
Gareth Maybin moved up the leader board to five under overall after a three under par third round of 68.
Michael Hoey carded a 75 to remain 4 over par.
The Dubliner is still eight shots off the leader Miguel Angel Jiménez of Spain.
Despite holding on to his overnight lead the Spaniard had a costly error when he picked his ball up because it was near a sprinkler head, but did not check if it was in the way and ended up putting the ball back in the same spot turning his third round 67 into a 68 - the same as Molinari – for a 17 under total.
"It's a pity," said Jimenez, thinking back to the incident at the tenth."I marked it and picked it up like it is preferred lies. Then I thought 'what are you doing?'
"But I'm still feeling good. It's very difficult to follow up a really low score. Anything you do looks like you are doing nothing."
Molinari is hoping to make it back-to-back wins before he takes three weeks off to rest and then prepare for his Ryder Cup debut alongside his brother Francesco. He hit his tee shot on the driveable par four seventh to within six feet of the flag – but missed the eagle putt. Then birdied the next two to be out in 32 like Jiménez.
One shot further back in joint third are his 17 year old compatriot Matteo Manassero and England's Steve Webster.
A top-five finish might well be enough for Manassero to earn a card for next season from the six starts he has so far had as a professional and a third round 69 keeps alive his hopes of becoming The European Tour's youngest-ever champion.
Webster moved into the picture with a superb 64 highlighted by an eagle on the 15th and the second best round of the day.
After making the cut with nothing to spare, Peter Lawrie - beaten in a play-off in the Czech Republic only a fortnight ago - burst from 61st to seventh with his round of 63.
Darren Clarke was three under for the day signing for a 68 to finish one shot behind Lawrie on eight under.
Gareth Maybin moved up the leader board to five under overall after a three under par third round of 68.
Michael Hoey carded a 75 to remain 4 over par.
