Ryder Cup Vice-Captain Des Smyth moved to within one shot of overnight leader Tim Thelen after the first nine holes of the final round of the Senior Open de Portugal, at Vidago Palace.
The 61 year old Irishman started the day three shots behind the American, but went out in one under par 35, which was enough to close the gap to a single shot, after Thelen carded eight pars and a bogey on his front nine.
As the leaders went through the turn there were eleven players within four shots of the lead. Spainard Miguel Angel Martin went out on three under par 33 to move up to nine under par, while Carl Mason and Steen Tinning were one shot further back at eight under.
Australia’s Peter Fowler was the leader in the clubhouse at seven under par, after firing a sparkling seven under par 67 which left him in a share of sixth place with Angel Franco, Cesar Monasterio, Simon P Brown, Chris Williams and Greg Turner.
