Ryder Cup team-mates Francesco Molinari and Lee Westwood continue to battle it out at the top of the WGC - HSBC Champions leaderboard.
Both players carded splendid rounds of 67 on Saturday to leave the Italian one clear of the new world number one on 14-under par with 18 holes to play at Sheshan International.
A Molinari bogey at the fourth briefly saw the Englishman draw level with his European Tour counterpart but the 27-year-old from Turin regained his composure and an incredible eagle two at the 411-yard par-four 13th ultimately enabled him to hold on to a slender lead over his playing partner.
"I think it was a really eventful round, and it was a bit of a roller coaster because I hit some great shots and some not so great shots," he said.
"It was obviously good to get some shots back on the 13th. There was a bit of luck to hole it but it was also really a good shot that was aimed straight at the flag.
"My short game is improving and the eagle on 13 was a big bonus," Molinari said.
"I'm really happy to still be in front of Lee, he's a great player and he played really well so I know it's going to be really hard tomorrow.
"Finishing like that, it's really good because it keeps me in the lead. One shot is pretty much nothing but it's maybe better to be one shot ahead than one shot behind."
Westwood's compatriot Luke Donald lies four shots off the pace in third on 10-under par following a gritty 68 that saw him scrambling to make a string of pars.
Two shots further adrift are the trio of Ross Fisher, Ernie Els and Richie Ramsay leaving the top six comprised entirely of European Tour Members.
Disappointing bogeys at the 16th and 18th checked Padraig Harrington's progress and he finished on six-under par despite an amazing albatross two at the par-five 14th.
Defending champion Phil Mickelson is well out of contention, a 76 leaving the American languishing on level par for the tournament.
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