Germany’s Tobias Dier eagled the last to maintain his overnight three-shot cushion on 16 under par, pre-tournament favourite Padraig Harrington and Mark Roe his nearest challengers.

Fulke was a shot further back alongside Australian Peter Lonard after coming home in 30, and looks to be rediscovering his form in perfect time with the Ryder Cup less than two months away.

‘‘It’s my third 65 in my last four rounds including the last round of the Open and I’m playing nicely,’’ the 31-year-old said.

‘‘The putter has been nagging me the whole year but I changed the grip this week even though it felt weird and I started to make some putts which is a big part of my game.

‘‘My last round at Muirfield was the best since the World Matchplay a year and a half ago and that gave me the confidence to come here.’’

Finishing runner-up in that World Matchplay final in Australia sealed Fulke’s Ryder Cup place after he had won the season-ending Volvo Masters in 2000, and means he will have waited 20 months to make his Ryder Cup debut at the Belfry following the postponement in the wake of the terrorist attacks in America on September 11.

‘‘I was secure after the matchplay, which ended on the sixth of January 2001,’’ Fulke added. ‘‘It’s 20 months and it’s hard to keep form for that long. You’re going to have ups and downs, hopefully I’m on the way up and can keep that going.

‘‘The events that happened probably did me a favour because I was not playing great last year and it’s probably for the best for me.

‘‘Both teams have 50% of their players playing well and 50% badly. It seems to be a few that get most of the crap and I was one of them. It has not really bothered me, it would be sad personally to play badly but what people write does not matter to me at all.’’

Harrington has now finished in the top eight in all three majors this season - fifth at the US Masters, eighth in the US Open and fifth in the Open - and admitted such performances were making life difficult for him on the course.

‘‘I did not play great but I’m being very hard on myself and that’s the problem,’’ the Dubliner said. ‘‘The score is good and I putted well but it’s no fun out there and I’m being a little critical.

‘‘I have to try to take it a little easier, not be so hard on myself, because there is no use beating yourself up out there.’’

Dier had seen his lead shrink to a single shot at one stage as he carded his first bogeys of the week on the fourth, 10th and 16th, but four birdies and a closing eagle kept him in pole position to claim his second European Tour title.

‘‘I felt like I left a few shots out there, but I’m pleased with the way I’m playing,’’ said the 25-year-old biochemistry graduate, aiming to succeed compatriot Bernhard Langer as champion.

‘‘There is a German tradition of winning this title with Bernhard and Sven Struver and we will see tomorrow if I am the next.’’

Roe also eagled the last to join Harrington in second place and keep his hopes of a first win in eight years alive.

The 39-year-old had been the one to close within a shot of Dier when he birdied the 12th, but bogeys at the next two holes dropped him back to 10 under.

‘‘When I looked up after that and saw Tobias was 14 under at the time I knew I had to do something,’’ said Roe. ‘‘That was the kind of gap I couldn’t have going into the final day.

‘‘It was great to make birdie at 16 and then eagle the last, and although I’m still three behind, it would have been five without it so I’m very excited about Sunday.’’

Scot Raymond Russell carded a joint best-of-the-day 64 to finish 11 under, alongside Jamie Spence who had a quieter afternoon with two birdies, one bogey and 15 pars in his 69.

Nick Faldo was seven under after a stunning end to his round, the six-time major winner finishing birdie-birdie-eagle for a 67.

Lee Westwood’s misfortunes continued however, the Worksop professional needing to birdie the last two holes just to card a two over 72 and still looks well short of the sort of form that made him European number one in 2000.

The 29-year-old has not won since September that year and has slumped from a career-high fourth in the world to his current lowly 104th.