Ryan Fox is within touching distance of the lead after the third round of the European Tour's Scottish golf Open.
The Kiwi shot a three-under par 69 to rise to a share of fifth at six-under par overall.
England's Callum Shinkwin and Ian Poulter as well as Australian Andrew Dodt lead at nine- under.
Poulter controlled his swing, ball, and temperament in what he described as "brutally tough conditions" to move in sight of his first worldwide title in 4 1/2 years.
In sideways rain and strong winds on Scotland's west coast, clubs slipped from players' hands, hardy fans' umbrellas were blown inside out, and puddles formed on fairways on the battered Dundonald Links.
A re-energized Poulter relished the links test, making three birdies in his first seven holes before battling the worst weather of the week on his back nine to shoot a 1-under 71.
"It was a job just to hold the umbrella," said Poulter, who is hitting top form a week before playing the British Open at Royal Birkdale, where he was tied for second the last time it was staged there in 2008.
"There's life in the old dog yet," Poulter added, with a determined smile, "and I'm relishing the opportunity tomorrow to go out and get stuck in."
The last of Poulter's 14 global victories was in November 2012 at the WGC-HSBC Champions in China.
The Scottish Open is seen as an ideal tune-up for the British Open. Players probably could have done without conditions like they were on Saturday, though.
The tee times were brought forward by about three hours because of high winds forecast for late afternoon. The bad weather arrived a few hours earlier than expected, just when Poulter and the other lead groups were coming in.
"No. 12 was about as tough as I've ever seen in terms of wind and rain," Poulter said, holding a cup of tea to warm his hands.
