England's Matt Fitzpatrick had a battle on his hands to remain on course for his second European Tour title in the Nordea Masters in Stockholm.
Fitzpatrick took a three-shot lead into the third round at Bro Hof Slott Golf Club thanks a flawless 65 on Friday, but saw that wiped out in the space of eight holes by playing partner Nicolas Colsaerts.
Colsaerts, who has not won since victory in the Volvo World Match Play Championship in 2012 led to him being selected as a Ryder Cup wild card, birdied the fourth and sixth to close the gap as Fitzpatrick recorded a string of pars.
And the 33-year-old Belgian then moved into the outright lead thanks to a two-shot swing on the eighth, where he holed from 20 feet for birdie and Fitzpatrick failed to get up and down from short of the green.
That was only Fitzpatrick's second bogey of the week, but the 21-year-old former US Amateur champion bounced back immediately to birdie the par-five ninth and join Colsaerts at the top of the leaderboard on 11 under par.
Sweden's Alexander Bjork was a shot behind after two birdies in his first 10 holes, with Scotland's Scott Henry another stroke back after chipping in for his second birdie of the day on the 10th.
However, Lee Westwood's bid for a record fourth victory in the event had suffered a potentially fatal blow, the former world number one carding a double-bogey seven on the 12th to drop back to four under.
Home favourite Henrik Stenson had already finished four under after a third round of 70, the world number six telling Sky Sports: "That's the best round I have played this week and I am quite pleased with a lot of things, but it could have been a lot better.
"There were maybe a couple of bad clubs in the middle of the round and I pushed too hard for a birdie on 15 and three-putted. When you are trying too hard, sometimes it can come back to bite you."
Source: PA
