The Swedish world number two had trailed overnight leaders Alvaro Quiros, Victor Dubuisson and Eddie Pepperell by a shot heading into the third round, but carded an eight-under-par 64 as he bids to win the title on home soil for the first time.
Stenson dropped just one shot in his third round, the highlight of which was an eagle on the 481-yard par-four seventh where the 2013 Race to Dubai champion holed his approach shot.
However, Stenson’s efforts were not enough to earn him the outright lead, with England’s Pepperell keeping himself very much in the picture after signing for a 65.
Pepperell held a share of the lead at the halfway stage after making par on day two, and was in fine form as he continued in his quest to secure a first European Tour triumph.
The 23-year-old’s eight birdies would have been enough to see him as the outright leader, only for a bogey at the 17th to spoil an otherwise faultless day.
It remains a tightly bunched field at the PGA Sweden National course in Malmo, leaving matters finely poised ahead of what is sure to be a tense final round.
Stephen Gallacher is at 12 under in tied third as he goes in search of his second title of the year after defending his Dubai Desert Classic crown back in February.
Quiros is level with Scotsman Gallacher, the Spaniard producing a score of 66 that marked his best of the tournament so far.
The 31-year-old eagled the opening hole for a second consecutive round, but, as with Pepperrell the 17th proved to be the scene for Quiros’ only dropped shot, preventing him from making it a three-way tie for the lead.
Dubuisson is a shot further back on 11 under, bogeys on holes 15 and 16 damaging his prospects of victory.
The Frenchman is one clear of Wales’ Bradley Dredge, who heads the trio of Romain Wattel, Rafa Cabrera-Bello and Thongchai Jaidee, all of whom are on nine under.
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