27-year old Juan Pablo Abbate is the most improved player of the TLA’s 2002 – 2003 season and current leader of the Order of Merit. Surprised and delighted to have eliminated a seven-shot deficit, he commented: "When I arrived today and saw the wind was strong, I knew it would be a round to hang in and try not to lose ground on the leaders. It’s a bit of a surprise now to be at the top, but I really did play well, a round of almost no mistakes, three birdies out, two on the back nine, no bogeys. My mental attitude today was great, very positive."

Discussing possible reasons for his newfound confidence, Abbate believes several sessions last year with an Argentine sports psychologist helped tame his temperament while his recent marriage and young daughter have also helped: "I’m now the family provider, so I have to take life more responsibly."

McGrane got off to a scrappy start - missing the green at his opening hole and adding three putts for a double bogey, but by the turn he was again very much in command: "I put three birdies together from the 6th to the 8th and was a bit unlucky not to make it four-in-a-row at the 9th, " the 31-year old Irishman from Wexford said.

The 11th a 483-yard par four is not the most difficult driving hole on this pine-lined Hacienda Nueva course. However, playing into a stiff breeze on Saturday, the drive required a slight fade to achieve best approach position: here McGrane unaccountably produced a snap-hook and only a fortuitously placed conifer saved him from an out-of-bounds.

"I tried to squeeze out through the trees but got caught by a branch, the ball came backwards and it took two more to get into a tough lie in the front bunker," he said ruefully, this triple-bogey seven reducing his lead to one over Abbate. A further error, at the 222-yard par-three 14th where McGrane cut his tee-shot right and had to settle for four, produced the tie.

"I struggled a bit during that patch," the Irishman who has full European Tour status this year added, "but I finished strong, which was pleasing. On the last few holes, all playing downwind, it was hard to stop the ball close to the pins, which were all up-front. Thanks to that at least I’m still in there with a fighting chance."

Of the 66 that vaulted Michael Kirk into solo third slot, the 26-year old from Johannesburg, he said: "The goal is to get into position for the last round and by playing nicely today I achieved the objective."

Long-hitting Daniel Vancsik from Argentina’s Missiones province continued to amaze all with his 360-yard drives, but three short putts over the closing holes escaped, leaving him in solo 6th place, behind compatriot Hernan Rey and Sweden’s Johan Edfors.