South Africa's Charl Schwartzel ignored a nagging shoulder injury to birdie the final hole for a one-shot lead after the third round of the Madrid Masters today.
Schwartzel, who led with Australia's Marcus Fraser on nine under overnight, hit a four under par 67 to go 14 under for the tournament on 199.
Argentina's Ricardo Gonzalez carded a nine-under 62 to be a shot behind in second place.
While Fraser faded, fellow Aussie Andrew Tampion enjoyed a 65 to be in a share of fourth place, four from the lead.
Fraser blew out with a 74 to be equal 14th and eights shots down.
Schwartzel gained shots at the fourth and fifth before an eagle at the 540 yard par five seventh. He then birdied the eighth but dropped a shot at the par three ninth to reach the turn in 32.
He dropped another shot at the 12th but birdies at the par five 14th and the 18th ensured his place at the top of the leaderboard.
"I didn't feel very strong this morning but I felt I ground it out nicely today," said Schwartzel.
"I felt very weak and slept very badly last night. Thankfully my shoulder is fine now after the physio treated it, but I still felt ill and got some medication from the doctor."
Gonzalez was 35 for the outward nine but then carded birdies at the tenth and 11th before finishing with six threes in a row, including one at the par five 14th and four birdies to come back in just 27.
Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal hit a nine under 62 to be in third place on 11 under while Australia's Andrew Tampion, England's Paul Waring and Larrazabal's compatriot Carlos Del Moral are tied for fourth on ten under.
Former double Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal, making his third Tour comeback after a series of illness and injury, carded a par 71 to be 213 after three rounds, 14 shots behind Schwartzel.
Leading and selected third round scores in the EPGA Madrid Masters here on Saturday (GBR and IRL unless stated, par 71):
199: Charl Schwartzel (RSA) 69 64 66
200: Ricardo Gonzalez (ARG) 69 69 62
202: Pablo Larrazabal (ESP) 68 72 62
203: Andrew Tampion (AUS) 75 63 65, Paul Waring 69 67 67, Carlos Del Moral (ESP) 69 67 67
205: Damien McGrane 69 68 68, Sion Bebb 69 68 68, Ignacio Garrido (ESP) 70 68 67, Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 69 69 67
206: Robert Rock 70 65 71, Steven Jeppesen (SWE) 68 67 71, Alvaro Quiros (ESP) 74 66 66
207: Stephen Gallacher 71 65 71, Kyron Sullivan 71 68 68, Tom Whitehouse 71 70 66, Eduardo De La Riva (ESP) 71 71 65, Santiago Luna (ESP) 68 68 71, Martin Kaymer (GER) 71 69 67, Marcus Fraser (AUS) 67 66 74
Also:
210: Steve Alker (NZL) 73 66 71, Magnus A Carlsson (SWE) 67 70 73
213: Jose-Maria Olazabal (ESP) 70 72 71, Peter O'Malley (AUS) 70 71 72
218: Peter Fowler (AUS) 72 70 76
