That meant he had led a tournament at the halfway stage for the third time in just five weeks, after the Lancome Trophy and the Madrid Open, where he had opened with a pair of 65s.

Both those times, however, he faded badly off the leaderboard during the final two rounds, but over the Ta Shee course today Lafeber, still searching for his maiden tour title, looked to be handling the situation far more comfortably.

Birdies at the second and third immediately settled his nerves but after seven holes of his third round he had seen his lead cut to three by young South African Trevor Immelman.

The 22-year-old, also looking for his first win on tour, chalked up four birdies in his first seven holes, and with a bogey in between on the fourth, meant he had improved to 11 under, and second place.

Padraig Harrington was a further shot back on 10 under, having opened with birdies at the second and third, and after a shot dropped at the fourth clawed one back again with a two at the short seventh.

The biggest mover of the day so far has been Dane Soren Hansen, who after yesterday’s 68 reached the turn in four-under 32 and with seven holes of his third round to play stood on nine under, five off the pace.

Alongside him was last year’s Taiwan Open champion Andrew Pitts, from America, who was two under for the day, and Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee had moved up to eight under.

Two of the tour’s old timers were proving they were still capable of holding their own on the course.

Sam Torrance and Ian Woosnam, captain and vice-captain of Europe’s victorious Ryder Cup team, were together on six under – both two under for the day – with six holes still to play.

John Daly, playing on in the tournament despite the death of his mother on Thursday, posted a two-under round of 70 to move to two under for the tournament.