England’s pint-size Matthew Fitzpatrick will go in search of a first European Tour victory tied for the lead with Sumo-sized Thailand-born Kiradeck Aphibarnrat on 12 under.

The Callaway backed Aphibarnrat has won twice this year in capturing April’s Shenzhen International in China and in August the Bangkok-born golfer won the Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Match Play at Murcar Links in Aberdeen, Scotland.

Fitzpatrick has led after every round this week so far and began the third round on nine under alongside Kjeldsen but a 68 gave him a slender lead over the Dane and Zanotti who registered a 66.

“No-one was running away with it so it was nice just to hang in there and keep trying to hit good golf shots and stay with everyone,” said Fitzpatrick. “It was certainly a bit of patience and just holing some putts.

“Some great names have won wire-to-wire and it would be nice to add mine to that. It was obviously something in the back of my mind but I’m just bothered about hopefully playing good golf and we’ll see.”

Thailand’s Kiradeck Aphribarnrat looking to capture a third European Tour success this season.

Kjeldsen holed a 12-foot putt from the fringe on the first to get to 10 under but three putts on the next saw him give the shot back, although he maintained the lead as Fitzpatrick went through the back of the green then left his chip short to also bogey.

Aphibarnrat had made steady progress over his first three holes but an eight-foot putt gave him a birdie on the fourth to move into a share of the lead before Fitzpatrick in the group behind produced a carbon copy to make it a three-way tie at the top.

Richard Bland’s tee-shot on the sixth found the lower tier of the green but the Englishman, struggling with back pain, rolled in a huge putt up the hill to get into a share of the lead and he was soon joined by Zanotti who had some good fortune with his second shot but rolled in an eagle on the seventh.

Shane Lowry was next to join the party at the top of the leaderboard with a birdie on the seventh making it a six-way tie but that would last only seconds as Aphibarnrat followed him in to get to 10 under.

Bland, Fitzpatrick and Kjeldsen then all made birdies on the seventh to move back into a share of the lead where they were just one clear of Luke Donald who made his sixth birdie of the day on the 15th and signed for a blemish-free 65 to sit nine under par.

The two men who had started the day out in front then made sure they were there at the turn as Fitzpatrick and Kjeldsen both birdied the ninth to get to 11 under.

Another gain for Kjeldsen at the 11th moved him into the lead on his own at 12 under but, just ahead of him, Aphibarnrat was building a very tidy round and got within one with a birdie of his own.

Kjeldsen then dropped a shot on the 13th and the Thai took full advantage on the par three 14th with a remarkable putt for birdie which he stroked along the top of the ridge at almost 90 degrees to the hole before watching it slide down the hill and into the cup.

Zanotti, meanwhile, had made three birdies in a row from the tenth to get to 11 under and, despite dropping a shot on the 13th, he soon got it back as he birdied the 15th for the third consecutive day.

Fitzpatrick had begun his back nine with five pars but soon stopped that run with a gain on the 15th courtesy of an eight-foot putt that moved him back to the summit before the leading duo parred their way home.

“Today didn’t have any particularly good shots,” said Aphibarnrat. “Driving and hitting is good.

“I made a lot of putts on the front nine but the iron play wasn’t as sharp as the first two rounds.

“At the 17th and 16th they were very difficult putts and I couldn’t make them but I just look forward to playing tomorrow.

I’ll just continue to play my own game and concentrate on the gameplan and give myself the opportunity to putt and keep it in the fairways – Kiradech Aphibarnrat

“(If you) Keep the ball in play you have a chance to finish low.

“If I can make lower than 67, I think it may be job done.”

Donald, the 2011 Race to Dubai winner, led the group at nine under after six birdies in nine holes from the seventh and was alongside Romain Wattel who also had six birdies, five on the back nine, but two dropped shots.

World Golf Championships – Bridgestone Invitational winner Lowry was also three back after a 69 as was Bland who signed for a 70.

Robert Karlsson was then at eight under alongside the English trio of Daniel Brooks, Lee Slattery and Anthony Wall

Two-time European number one Lee Westwood was among the group at seven under with former US Open champion Graeme McDowell a further shot back and tournament host Ian Poulter on five under.