Bourdy four clear in Portugal

Bourdy, who has now held at least a piece of the lead after each of the first three rounds, stands at 17-under 196. He missed Robert Lee's 1987 54-hole tournament record by a stroke.

Miles Tunnicliff fired an eight-under 63 and is knotted in third place with Charl Schwartzel, who carded a five-under 66. The pair is tied at 12-under 201.

Bourdy began the third round with a two-shot lead over Gonzalo Fernandez- Castano. He fell to his first bogey of the tournament at the par-four fourth and his lead slipped to one.

"I made my first bogey of the week on the fourth so the first few holes were difficult and I didn't play my game," acknowledged Bourdy. "Maybe I was a little bit nervous."

He sank a five-foot par save at the sixth, then eagled the par-five seventh to reach 15-under par for the championship. At the next hole, the par-five eighth, Bourdy came up short with his second, but chipped to two feet to set up another birdie.

"I was a bit more relaxed and I made the eagle on the seventh and the birdie on the eighth and after that I was able to play my game - the game that I was playing on Thursday and Friday," he said.

Bourdy made six consecutive pars around the turn, although he squandered some chances. At both the 13th and 14th holes, Bourdy missed eight-foot birdie putts.

Forsyth cashed in on a seven-foot birdie putt at the 16th to get within three of Bourdy. The leader responded with a birdie at 15 and parred out for the four-shot cushion.

Bourdy has been on the top all week, which is a contrast to his only other European Tour win. At last year's Mallorca Classic, Bourdy used a big weekend to get to the winner's circle.

"I was sharing the lead going into the final round in Mallorca. I wasn't leading by myself there so tomorrow will be a new experience," Bourdy said. "I love this course."

For Bourdy to get his second win, he will have to handle one of the hottest players on tour. Forsyth won the Madeira Islands Open two weeks ago in Portugal.

"I played well in Madeira and did okay last week as well and fortunately I have been able to carry that form into this week," said Forsyth, who tied for 25th last week. "Right from the start I had a good round on Thursday, kept it going yesterday and then again today."

Fernandez-Castano (72), David Howell (67), Soren Kjeldsen (68), Rory McIlroy (66) and Lee Slattery (68) share fifth at 11-under 202.

Defending champion Pablo Martin (69), last week's winner in Andalucia Thomas Levet (72), Simon Dyson (70), Damien McGrane (69) and Steve Webster (70) are tied for 10th at minus-10.