Amateur Pablo Martin vaults into lead - Estoril Open de Portugal 2007

Spanish youngster Pablo Martin mounted his second bid to become the first amateur to win a European Tour event by charging home in 29 shots in the Portuguese Open third round on Saturday.

A five-under-par 66 put the 20-year-old in third place on four-under 209, two shots adrift of Swedish leader Alex Noren (68). British rookie Ross McGowan (72) was in second spot on 208.

When he was only 17, Martin led the 2003 Canaries Spanish Open after three rounds before fading on the final day.

Four years ago Martin was still at school when he took the Tenerife event by storm. Now he is studying at Oklahoma State University and plans to turn professional later this year.

First he wants the tour record. While Dr David Sheehan won a tournament at Royal Dublin as an amateur in 1962 that was when the tour was run by the British PGA, 10 years before the European Tour played its first season.

"I was taking school exams in 2003 and had brought my books with me," Martin told reporters after his scintillating six-under-par back nine at windy Oitavos.

"It is awesome to be in this kind of place again. I might have lost my chance then but I learned a lot from the experience."

The Malaga amateur regularly seeks advice from multiple tour winner and Ryder Cup compatriot Miguel Angel Jimenez, who comes from the same Spanish town. He has also discussed his plans with the last Spanish youngster to break through at an early age, Sergio Garcia.

"Tomorrow I shall play it one shot at a time and try to deal with the situation this time," said Martin.

"Today everything clicked on the back nine, everything went so smoothly."

By coincidence, Noren also studied at Oklahoma State.

The Swedish rookie, who is being helped by Henrik Stenson's coach Pete Cowen, said: "Pablo and I are really great friends. He was number one on our college team.

"He beat me more times than I beat him. I'm hoping to change that tomorrow. I've started to play better recently but I didn't expect to be in the lead for the first time in my career."

Former British amateur champion Graeme Storm shared third place with Martin after a 70. Japan's Taichi Teshima was a further stroke back on 210.

Paul Broadhurst of Britain appeared to blow his chances of a third successive win in the event, ballooning to a 75 for 215.