Peter Hanson shot a 2-under 70 to lead Ryder Cup teammate Rory McIlroy by one stroke after the third round of the European PGA Tour’s inaugural BMW Masters on Saturday.

Hanson, who won the KLM Open last month, is on 15-under 200 at the Lake Malaren Course in Shanghai and is wary of the threat of McIlroy.

“I feel myself very lucky to be in this position and hopefully I can stay ahead of him because it is going to be a tough one considering the way he is playing,” Hanson said.

“So I need to play a little bit better than I did tomorrow to have a chance of beating him.

“But if I were to win this event it would be massive and this is the start of a big stretch coming up now, so it’s just nice to find a bit of form and see yourself up there, and having a bit of a chance of winning the title come Sunday.

McIlroy shot a 69 and is chasing a fifth title this season. He won the exhibition Shanghai Masters tournament on the same course last year.

“It would mean a lot if I could successfully defend here at Lake Malaren, even though this year’s event is now on the European Tour, so it would be nice to win for a second time,” he said.

“What also would be most pleasing is that I will come into these last few weeks of my year trying to wrap-up the Race to Dubai No.1 title.

George Coetzee of South Africa (66) is three shots back in third place.

Alexander Noren of Sweden (69), Michael Hoey of Northern Ireland (68), South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel (68), Shane Lowry of Ireland (69) and the England pair of Justin Rose (69) and Luke Donald (68) are tied for fourth place at 11 under.