A closing birdie gave Darren Clarke a one shot lead going into the final round of the BMW Asian Open in Shanghai.

The Ulsterman registered five birdies in an error-free round of 67 to take over at the top with a three round total of 207 - nine under par.

Clarke began the day one off the pace but was soon on the move by picking up shots at the second and sixth holes to move to six-under.

Another birdie at the start of the back nine kept the momentum going and a fourth at the par-five 15th took him into a tie with Dutchman Robert-Jan Derksen.

However, the co-overnight leader was unable to match Clarke's birdie at the final hole, although a solid round of 69 means the pair will go head-to-head on Sunday.

"I played really well today," said Clarke. "I am very pleased with the way I hit the ball and I think a 67 is very good.

"I am looking forward to tomorrow and I just hope I can keep doing what I am doing."

But 'moving Saturday' belonged to English rookie Robert Dinwiddie, who overcame a double bogey at the seventh to blitz the back nine, coming home in 31 for a best-of-the-day 66 to sit just two off the lead.

"I am very happy," he said. "I had a couple of steady rounds and then to go out and shoot a really good one today and put myself in contention for tomorrow it is great.

"I putted very, very well for the last seven holes. All in all I played nice steady golf and took all the opportunities I had."

The other overnight leader, Zhang Lian-Wei, disappointed local fans with a round of 76 to drop off the pace, but Chinese interests are still represented by amateur Hu Mu, whose 71 kept him in a share of fifth place with three others in three under par.

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