Denmark's Anders Hansen defied swirling winds to fire a six-under-par 66 and stretch his lead to a record-equalling five shots after the Volvo PGA Championship's third round today.
The 31-year-old Dane, two ahead of Colin Montgomerie and Eduardo Romero overnight, mixed seven birdies with a solitary drop at the short fifth to set a new championship mark of 17-under 199 after 54 holes.
That left him well clear of second-placed Spaniard Carlos Rodiles, who collected five birdies on the back nine on his way to a four-under 68.
Argentina's Romero, playing in the final group with Hansen, eagled both closing par-fives for a 71 and third place at 10-under 206.
Montgomerie, who became the first player to win the event three years in a row with victories from 1998-2000, returned an even-par 72 to share fourth with Nick Faldo (68) and Zimbabwe's Mark McNulty (71).
Hansen, whose highest finish on the European Tour was a tie for third in the French Open three weeks ago, matched the tournament record for the largest lead after 54 holes, set by defending champion Andrew Oldcorn of Scotland on his way to last year's title.
But the Dane eclipsed the 54-hole scoring championship record of 15-under-par 201, established by Seve Ballesteros in 1991 and equalled by Oldcorn 12 months ago.
The steady Hansen reached the turn in three-under-par 32 and then birdied the short 10th, the par-five 12th and the long 17th to stay five clear of the field.
First-round leader Montgomerie briefly closed to within a shot of the Dane when he birdied the 154-yard second from four feet and moved to 10 under.
But the 38-year-old Scot, struggling a little off the tee, slipped back when he bogeyed the third, the sixth and the seventh before recovering some ground with birdies at 10 and 12.
Six times major champion Faldo, who reeled off five birdies in seven holes from the 12th, kept alive his hopes of qualifying for next month's U.S. Open at Bethpage State Park.
The 44-year-old, who placed third at Wentworth last year, needs to finish in the top two on Sunday to have a chance of climbing back into the world's top 50 to qualify for the second major championship of the year.
Dutchman Maarten Lafeber, whose best European Tour finish was joint-second at this year's Madeira Island Open, earlier vaulted up the leaderboard to eight under after firing a five-under-par 67.
Starting the day in 22nd place, the 27-year-old dropped a shot at the par-three second but reeled off six birdies, including four on his back nine.
Ulsterman Darren Clarke finished on six-under today as he went around in 69.