It was an historic day for American Patrick Reed at the Hong Kong Golf Open in Fanling on Saturday, as he shot a rare round of 59 to catapult himself into a three-stroke lead at the end of day three.

The 2018 winner at Augusta carded 11 birdies in his sizzling 11-under-par third round to go 18-under overall on the prestigious Asian Tour event.

The 34-year-old's milestone is the lowest score ever in the tournament and overtakes a 60 scored by Britain's Ian Poulter in 2010.

"I had probably one of my worst warm-ups ever," Reed, 34, who is among a number of big-name players to have jumped ship to the Saudi-backed Liv Golf circuit, told reporters.

"I looked at my caddie and he said, 'Hey, a warm-up's a warm-up. Let's go out and just play golf. Some of your best rounds have come from a poor warm-up.'"

The American started with a blistering five birdies in a row and rattled off four more on the trot to finish with a flurry.

"I honestly felt it could have been lower," he added.

Going into the final round in Fanling, Reed holds a three-shot lead over India's Rashid Khan and Nitithorn Thippong of Thailand as he chases a first win on the Asian Tour.

Defending champion Ben Campbell of New Zealand is a further shot back at 14-under.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong golfing sensation Taichi Kho shot a four-under-par 66 for round three to go 12-under overall, as the tournament gears up for its final round on Sunday.

Kho, along with six other players, ended the afternoon strong to hold on to a tie for sixth place – after a dominant display that saw him grouped with Japan's Kazuki Higa and Kevin Yuan of Australia.

"Starting off with a birdie was great," Kho told reporters. "I capitalised on a good second shot on the sixth [hole], and got away with a good break on thirteenth being behind a tree – but I had a big gap.

"So being able to hit it on and two from there, and two putting from birdie, definitely helped boost my round quite a bit."

With the 24-year-old bidding to become the first player from the SAR to capture the Hong Kong Open crown, he also noted the challenges he overcame throughout the afternoon under rainier conditions.

"A bit of fortune there," Kho said. "There were times where I found myself in the trees, but I managed to find an opening without much concern, which gave me the focus I needed to hit a good shot."

This is the 63rd edition of the Hong Kong Open. (AFP/RTHK)