Simon Griffiths will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the Farmfoods European Senior Masters hosted by Peter Baker, but there are 19 players within six shots of top spot on a tightly packed leaderboard.
Like yesterday, there was very little wind in southern Spain, but tougher pin positions meant scoring wasn’t quite as low as the opening round. Overnight leader Griffiths had four bogeys, but he maintained his position at the summit thanks to a pair of eagles on the 6th and 13th holes and three birdies, including one at the 18th to give himself the outright lead. His 70 was an excellent follow-up to yesterday’s bogey-free 64.
Griffiths is 22nd on the MCB Road to Mauritius thanks to five top-8s in his last six tournaments. A first win on the Legends Tour would be the cherry on top of an impressive rookie campaign, but he’ll have to fight off the challenge of a stacked chasing pack.
Former Ryder Cup player and three-time DP World Tour winner Phillip Price is 2nd on -11. The Welshman had five birdies and two bogeys in a 70 that keeps him well in the hunt for a fourth Legends Tour title, and a first since the Irish Legends in August 2022.
“I’m really happy, to be honest,” he said after his round. “I had a great score yesterday, eight under, and I played good again today for three under. It probably wasn’t quite as good as yesterday, but still good stuff. I was quite quiet on the back nine today, didn’t have many birdies and I was sort of going backwards a little bit compared to the others, so a birdie on the last hole just pushed me forward a little.
“I haven’t played that well this year. I think I’ve maybe had three top-10s, so it’s nice to be in the mix. I’ve got my son on the bag, and it’s a lovely place and I’m glad to be in the mix.”
There’s a six-way tie for 3rd another shot back on -10, including MCB Road to Mauritius number one Adilson da Silva, and Scott Hend, who is 3rd on the season-long Order of Merit. Da Silva’s bogey-free 65 was the best round of the day as he surged through the field with six red numbers in his last seven holes, having started on the 10th. Hend also didn’t drop a shot as an eagle on the 4th and five birdies added up to a round of 66. The big-hitting Australian brought the five par-5s to their knees by playing them in -6.
The other players on -10 are Englishman Gary Evans, two-time PGA Tour winner José Coceres, and DP World Tour champions, Philip Golding and Emanule Canonica.
Two players who’ve already lifted trophies on the Legends Tour this season are tied-9th, with Van Phillips and Keith Horne both at -9 after rounds of 67 and 70 respectively.
Defending champion Patrik Sjöland had a good round of 69 to move into the top 20 on -5, and tournament host Peter Baker signed for a level-par 73 to remain at -2, in a tie for 34th.
