Sweden's Christopher Hanell overshadowed Ireland's Padraig Harrington by taking a surprise one-shot lead after the Hong Kong Open's third round today.
The 30-year-old Hanell fired a five-under-par 65 to finish at eight-under 202 in the opening event of the 2004 European Tour season.
However world number 10 Harrington was one of several players to bogey the difficult par-four 18th, three-putting there for a 67 to slip back into a share of second place with Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng, who carded a matching 67.
"I just lost my concentration at the end," said the Irishman, who also three-putted for bogey at the 16th. "It was a long day and it went downhill."
Hanell, who regained his European Tour playing privileges at last month's qualifying school finals in Spain, was delighted his hard work was already beginning to pay off. "I'm very happy," he said, after reeling off five birdies in a bogey-free round. "It feels great to be up on the leaderboard. "Hopefully I will be able to continue like this and finish it off."
Defending champion Fredrik Jacobson returned a one-over-par 71 to finish in a group of four tied for fourth at six-under 206. "It wasn't a good day," said the Swede. "I started bad and finished bad. But the race is still wide open and I still have a chance."
Level with Jacobson was Britain's Richard McEvoy, who began the day with a three-shot lead after leading the tournament for the first two rounds but fell back with a 74.
"I just didn't get anything going today and I didn't make any putts," said the 24-year-old McEvoy, after making two of his five bogeys in the first two holes.
Darren Clarke shot 69 for the second day running and finds himself four shots off the pace in a tie for ninth.