Twelve players are separated by just three strokes after a bewildering third round in the Great North Open at Slaley Hall.
Former Ryder Cup player David Gilford started the day in 20th place and after shooting a 68 ended it sharing top spot with Miles Tunnicliff and German Sven Struver.
Tunnicliff was 17th at halfway, but after a dazzling front nine of 30 - three better than anybody else and 10 better than overnight leader Struver - led by three.
Then the Marbella-based golfer came home in 38 while Struver woke up to put himself back in front before bogeying the last.
New Zealander Elliot Boult holed-in-one at the 179-yard 14th - and took 80 shots on the other 17 holes.
And, perhaps strangest of all, two of the players in contention after the second round did not even hit another shot.
Scot Andrew Oldcorn, joint fourth, withdrew because of 'flu and Surrey's Andrew Raitt, tied for 10th, because of wrist trouble.
Gilford, Tunnicliff and Struver are all on the six under par total of 210, one ahead of two more English players in Brian Davis and David Lynn.
Irishman Gary Murphy is two shots off the lead on four under.