Dubai: Victor Dubuisson leads by a stroke at 13-under-par, heading into Sunday’s final round of the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates’ Earth Course.

The Frenchman carded three birdies, an eagle and a bogey on his outward nine before returning with four birdies on the back nine, to add a 64 to earlier rounds of 70, 69, on Saturday.

“It’s a great score, my best to date,” he said. “I’ve played well and made the putts at the right time.

“It’s a course I like. The long game is very important, as is the putting, I just like the way it sets up.”

Nicolas Colsaerts, Matt Fitzpatrick and Tyrell Hatton are all a stroke behind at 12 under par, tied for second. Colsaerts added a 66 to earlier rounds of 67, 71, but things could have been a lot better for the Belgian, who bogeyed four times in a round with six birdies and two eagles.

“It’s in my personality, both extremes,” he said. “Maybe it’s just a matter of accepting and knowing you might make a couple of mistakes, but when you do play good it usually turns out quite well.

“I just need to do the same thing, maybe avoid the little mistakes here and there, but if I keep playing the way I’ve been playing the last three rounds, and it kind of falls into place, I think most people are aware of what I’m capable of.”

Rafael Cabrera-Bello sits a further stroke back at 11 under par, tied for fifth with day one leader Lee Westwood and day two joint-leader Francesco Molinari, after shooting 63 on top of earlier 71s.

“I knew I needed a low one to catch up with the leaders but I didn’t expect this low,” said the Spaniard.

“I have posted low rounds here before, so I know how to do it, but this is the lowest.

“It’s been a very good year for me and I’ve pretty much accomplished every single goal and many of my childhood dreams as well,” he added of making his Ryder Cup debut, and playing in the Olympics.

But despite having his most consistent year with five top five and six top 10 finishes in 22 appearances, he said a victory – what would be his first since the 2012 Omega Dubai Desert Classic - was still elusive. “I’m just trying to get that third [career] win, and I’m really happy to have put myself in a position where I can hopefully do so tomorrow.”

Elsewhere, Sergio Garcia who was joint leader with Molinari on nine-under a stroke clear after day two, has dropped down to tied for 13th after adding a 74 to 68, 67.

Five bogeys and a double bogey cancelled out five birdies in an eventful round for the Spaniard.

Leading scores

(After third round)

203 - Victor Dubuisson (FRA) 70-69-64

204 - Matthew Fitzpatrick (ENG) 69-69-66, Nicolas Colsaerts (BEL) 67-71-66, Tyrrell Hatton (ENG)71-66-67

205 - Rafa Cabrera Bello (ESP) 71-71-63, Lee Westwood (ENG) 66-70-69, Francesco Molinari (ITA) 68-67-70

207 - Soren Kjeldsen (DEN) 70-69-68, Nacho Elvira (ESP) 70-69-68, Bernd Wiesberger (AUT) 70-67-70, Charl Schwartzel (RSA) 70-67-70

208 - Tommy Fleetwood (ENG) 70-71-67

209 - Rikard Karlberg (SWE) 72-70-67, Thorbjorn Olesen (DEN) 71-70-68, Alex Noren (SWE) 71-69-69, Byeong Hun An (KOR) 70-69-70, Sergio Garcia (ESP) 68-67-74

210 - David Horsey (ENG) 72-71-67, Ross Fisher (ENG) 72-71-67, Shane Lowry (IRL) 70-71-69, Joost Luiten (NED) 68-69-73

211 - Branden Grace (RSA) 72-74-67, Rory McIlroy (NIR) 75-68-68, Julien Quesne (FRA) 67-76-68, Jorge Campillo (ESP) 72-71-68, Henrik Stenson (SWE) 72-69-70, Richard Sterne (RSA) 70-70-71.