Malcolm Mackenzie is on target for his first European Tour title in his 509th event in the Novotel Perrier French Open.
Mackenzie carded a third-round 65 for a 14-under-par total of 202 at Le Golf National, and goes into tomorrow's final round with a one shot lead over defending champion Jose Maria Olazabal and South African Trevor Immelman.
Olazabal kick-started his bid to retain his title with a spectacular hole-in-one on the second on his way to a 67, while overnight leader Immelman saw his four-shot cushion wiped out as he carded a 71.
Denmark's Anders Hansen is in fourth place, two shots off the lead, with Worthing's Gary Evans and local favourite Jean-Francois Remesy another shot adrift.
Colin Montgomerie's hopes of retaining the title he won here in 2000 all but disappeared however, the seven-time European number one needing to birdie the last two holes for a 71 that leaves him eight shots off the pace. PA