World number 424 Nicolas Colsaerts will take a three-shot lead into the final round of the Open de France after a third-round 67 on Saturday.
The 36-year-old, who has not won a tournament since the 2012 Volvo World Match Play Championship, mixed five birdies with one bogey in a four-under-par effort to add to rounds of 67 and 66 at Le Golf National.
George Coetzee, the first-round joint-leader, is the Belgian’s nearest challenger on -10 after the South African added a 70 to his opening 65 and Friday’s 68.
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In a field with not too many of the European Tour’s leading lights, world number 91 Kurt Kitayama of the USA shares third spot with Welshman Jamie Donaldson on -9, while three players are a further stroke back.
Scotland’s Richie Ramsay, Joachim Hansen of Denmark and Ireland’s Gavin Moynihan reached eight-under after 54 holes and will need to go low on Sunday to stand any chance of catching the leader.
Home hope Benjamin Hebert, South Africa’s Brandon Stone and Martin Kaymer of Germany sit on -7 and need a meltdown by Colsaerts to lift the trophy.
