Ian Poulter, 10th in the Race To Dubai standings ahead of next week's finale, is seeking to win his 10th European Tour title
Ian Poulter will take a two-shot lead over Ryder Cup teammate Graeme McDowell into Sunday's final round of the Hong Kong Open.
The Englishman doubled his advantage on Saturday as he followed up his sensation 10-under-par 60 with a 64 in the third round.
Poulter began with a birdie and an eagle in his first three holes, then closed with a flourish as he picked up shots at his last two to move to 19-under 191 after 54 holes.
McDowell, who is seeking to reduce the absent Martin Kaymer's lead in the European Tour money-list standings ahead of next week's season-ending event in Dubai, went one shot better with a 63.
Three birdies in his first seven holes were then offset by a bogey, but the Northern Irishman then eagled the par-four 10th hole and fired three consecutive birdies from 13 before closing with pars.
England's Simon Dyson, who holed in one on Thursday, was third on 16 under after an eight-birdie 65.
"I saw the other guys get off to a good start and that kind of frustrated me not to convert some of the chances I had," Poulter, who is 10th in the Race To Dubai standings, told the European Tour website.
"With Simon and Graeme pressing, I wanted to make sure I went into tomorrow with a bit of a lead. That is key, really, making sure you go into Sunday with a nice advantage."
U.S. Open champion McDowell said his eagle, sinking a 20-foot putt after driving the green, was the turning point in his round.
"It really got me going. I birdied 13, 14 and 15 so it was a good back nine, but it was definitely the eagle on 10 that got me off and running," he said.
"I am very happy with that round. It was more of the same really because I have played great this week."
Another Ryder Cup winner, McDowell's compatriot Rory McIlroy, was tied for fourth with American Anthony Kang on 15 under.
McIlroy closed with his fifth birdie to shoot 66, while Kang completed a flawless 67.
First-round leader Mark Brown of New Zealand shot 65 to be tied for sixth on 196 with India's Jeev Milkha Singh (66).
Defending champion Gregory Bourdy was tied for eighth on 13 under after a 65, alongside Italian teenager Matteo Manassero (67) and Welshman Jamie Donaldson.
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