Matt Fitzpatrick equalled Seve Ballesteros' 1985 record for the lowest score under par after 54 holes at the Open de France to take a five-shot lead into the final day.
The world number four, who has won three times on the PGA Tour this year, extended his one-shot overnight advantage to sit 19 under par after a second 65 of the week, a round which included his only dropped shot in three days after missing the green at the par-three eighth.
Although he beat Rory McIlroy at last year’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship, the Sheffield golfer has not won a regular tour event in Europe in three years.
On the prospect of winning the oldest tournament in continental Europe, Fitzpatrick said: "It would be amazing to be part of the history. This tournament has a lot of history and a lot of great winners.
"I think it was my second professional start as well so, you know, some form of connection here as well.
"I’ve got to go out and play my own game. I feel like I’m in a position that if I go and shoot a good round tomorrow then obviously it makes it almost impossible to catch."
Home hopes were lifted by Frenchman Tom Vaillant’s round of 67, which put him in outright second after defending champion Michael Kim double-bogeyed the last when an ambitious approach from the rough ended up in the lake.
Fitzpatrick’s Ryder Cup team-mate Tommy Fleetwood withdrew before the third round due to illness.
