DAVID Howell hopes to have given himself the chance to sign off 2016 on a high note after tying the course record at the UBS Hong Kong Open this morning.

The two-time Ryder Cup star from Swindon shot a seven-under-par round of 63 at Fanling to rocket 44 places up the leaderboard to seven under overall and into a tie for fifth place by the end of day three.

Fellow Wiltshire player Jordan Smith, from Derry Hill, playing in only his second European Tour event since earning his 2017 card last month, will start the final day on one under par overall after the Bowood player carded a level par 70 today.

Howell is making his seventh appearance at Hong Kong Golf Club with his best finish a sixth place in his debut back in 2004 and today's round was his lowest in 95 European Tour rounds, a run stretching back to the late summer of last year.

The Broome Manor man told europeantour.com: "I just snuck through to make the cut yesterday and I battled well, birdieing two of the last four or five holes to make it through.

"That's always the first thing in professional golf, you've got to be here for the weekend.

"Someone always makes a move on Saturday morning and it was glorious out there and, sure enough, things went my way.

"I think luck was on my side today and I obviously played some pretty nice golf as well and I was delighted to finish with a birdie to make the most of the round.''

He added: "I got the most out of the round in the end and I'm delighted to have made the move on this Saturday morning.

"I've given myself a nice chance of a top 10, top five finish if I play equally as well tomorrow.

"I'm in position for a fine finish after six weeks off which would be a nice way to start the season.

"I can't remember the last time I played that well. This whole year has been a struggle with the foot injury so to play like that is very pleasing.''

His round included seven birdies and an eagle two at the short par four 10th.

"It's a great hole, the tenth,'' he added.

"They've shoved the tee forward and it's about 275 yards. I was umming and ahhing about what to do and in the end gave it a rip and came up to about 12 feet and once again the putt went in to make the most of the gamble off the tee.

"Things were really going my way. I'd holed a bunker shot on nine as well and around that turn was a really pivotal stage.

"I'd hit it to about three feet on seven and three-putted and then you fear is the round going to go the wrong way for you, but I holed a lovely shot on eight, bunker shot on nine and eage on 10 and really things were rolling for me.''

Ryder Cup star Rafa Cabrera Bello survived a major wobble in the middle of his third round to take a share of the lead into the final day.

The Spaniard had extended his three-shot overnight lead to a five-shot advantage in the early stages and looked on course to cruise to his first victory since the 2012 Dubai Desert Classic.

He made three bogeys in four holes approaching the turn, however, and when he hit a tree on the 14th while trying to find a tiny gap and then put his third shot in a bunker, a double-bogey saw him lose the lead for the first time since midday on Thursday.

Australian Sam Brazel was the man to take advantage, making three birdies on the back nine to get to 11 under but Cabrera Bello recovered with gains on the 15th and 17th to join him at the summit.

England's Tommy Fleetwood was two shots off the lead at nine under, one ahead of American David Lipsky and two clear of Andrew Dodt, Justin Walters and Howell.

Masters winner Danny Willett was six shots off the lead after a one-over-par 71.