His second successive four-under-par 67 took JC Ritchie to 10-under-par on Saturday and a share of fifth ahead of the final round of the Hotel Planner Tour’s Open de Portugal at Royal Óbidos Spa & Golf Resort.

Ritchie, who is inside the top 10 on the Road to Mallorca rankings on the tour, and seemingly set to regain his DP World Tour card this season, was projected to rise to fifth place on the ranking after his third round which had six birdies and two bogeys in it.

At 10-under, he is also well-placed to be able to challenge for the lead in the final round, just three strokes off the lead. Up front, Scotland’s David Law took a one-stroke lead at 13-under-par after his third round of 67. He was one clear of Rocco Repetto Taylor of Spain and Lukas Nemecz of Austria.

Jovan Rebula, who was in a share of seventh after the second round, cared a third round of two-under-par 69, and slipped two places into a share of ninth.