Overnight leader Marc Farry made a solid start to his final round in the Handa Irish Senior Open presented by Fáilte Ireland, reaching the turn in three under par 33 to maintain a one stroke lead over Ross Drummond.
Farry drained a 20ft birdie putt on the first hole after both Drummond and two-time Major Champion Sandy Lyle began with poor tee shots. Drummond managed to save par but Lyle could only manage a bogey and he dropped two more shots on the fifth and eighth holes.
Drummond posted birdies on the second and third holes for a brief share of the lead but Farry picked up shots on the fourth and eighth holes to move to ten under par, one stroke clear heading into the back nine after Drummond birdied the ninth hole.
Farry is trying to win his maiden Senior Tour title and become the first French Senior Tour winner since Gery Watine in the 2005 Italian Seniors Open
Gordon Brand Jnr, winner of last week’s Matrix Jersey Classic, was two under par through nine holes to move to six under par and four shots off the pace, while Angel Franco threatened to mount a challenge after reaching the turn five under par for his round but two bogeys in three holes saw him slip back.
