Langasque began the day seven shots off the pace but reeled off seven birdies over the first 15 holes to wipe out his deficit.

The best was yet to come as he produced one of the shots of the day at the par-4 16th, driving the green before tapping in his eagle putt to reach 11-under-par.

He was eventually overtaken at the summit by Guerrier, who carded eight birdies and three bogeys in a third-round 66 to get to 12-under.

Ryder Cup hopeful Adrian Meronk was alongside Langasque in a tie for second after his Saturday 66.

Langasque tapped in for an opening birdie after sending his approach at the 1st to around two feet.

The 27-year-old then kept his card clean with momentum-boosting par saves at the second and third before making back-to-back gains at the 5th and 6th.

Romain Langasque leads with 18 holes to play. PHOTO: Andrew Redington/Getty Images.

He finished the front nine with another close-range birdie and picked up further shots on the 11th and 12th to climb to eight-under.

An eight-foot birdie on the 15th earned Langasque a share of the lead on nine-under before he drove the 16th green and slotted in his eagle putt to jump to 11-under.

He said: "I did not expect nine-under, I didn't expect to shoot a very low score on this course because it's quite a tough course.

"I didn't expect that score and I am very happy about it.

"There are so many good guys out there so I think tomorrow's going to be a big battle."

Guerrier, who is aiming to win his maiden DP World Tour title on Sunday, took the outright lead with a closing birdie after getting up and down from a greenside bunker at the 18th.

He will play alongside his friend Langasque in the final group in round four, and he said: "Of course we will speak and I hope we are going to have a good game."