Leader Alex Noren continued his assault on the record books during the third round of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship at Port Royal Golf Course on Saturday.

Having already carded a tournament best 11 birdies in a round, a low 36-hole score of 15-under and equalling the tournament record (61), the Swede shot a 67 during the penultimate round of the championship to add the 54-hole record of 19-under 194 to an already impressive haul.

Most importantly, Noren’s second successive bogey-free stroll around Southampton kept him on top of the leaderboard with a one-shot advantage over Colombian Camilo Villegas with 18 holes left to play.

“This is what you dream of, having a chance to win and being up in the final group on a Saturday and Sunday,” Noren said.

“I really enjoyed it today. I came off maybe a little colder start, but I played good enough to kind of get that four-under in the end.

“I'm very happy with that and happy to be in the lead still.”

Villegas, who shot a 65 to keep his title bid firmly on track, is also excited to be playing in the final group again after doing so last week at the World Wide Technology Championship in Mexico, where he finished tied for second.

“It's nice to be in the final group for a second consecutive week,” he said. “That tells me that I'm doing the right thing and that all the work that I've been putting in is heading on the right track.

“I feel comfortable out there and just trying to keep it really light with my caddie. Today was going to be a little slower round with 82 guys making the cut and just trying not to waste too much energy, just being too focused.”

Two shots off the lead and tied for third are German Matti Schmid and American Ryan Moore at 17 under.

“I kept the card pretty clean again,” Schmid said. “A bit of a shame that my first bogey of the tournament came on 12, but other than that it was solid again tee to green and it was nice to finish eagle-birdie.

“Everything's kind of working pretty solid right now, especially off the tee and iron play. If the putter works, I should shoot a good round.”

Noren was not the only player setting records in the third round with Satoshi Kodaira achieving a new tournament record of 50 consecutive holes without a bogey.

Also grabbing their share of history were Paul Malnati, past winner Lucas Herbert and Peter Malnati.

Paul Malnati equalled Noren’s tournament record 11 birdies in a round and Herbert and Peter Malnati the tournament record for the lowest third-round score of 64, also held by Bo Hoag, Ben Kohles and Brian Gay.

Noren, Villegas and Schmid will tee off in the last group in Sunday’s final round but the championship is wide open with 17 players within five shots of the lead.

Among those completing their second rounds on Saturday was local amateur Eric West, who carded an 80 to finish at 15 over.