Scotland’s Bill Longmuir got off to the perfect start in his quest to capture an eighth European Senior Tour title by posting four birdies in the first four holes in the final round of the Handa Senior Masters presented by The Stapleford Forum.
Longmuir started the day with a four stroke lead over John Harrison and Boonchu Ruangkit and quickly showed the form that led to opening rounds of 64 and a 69 at Stapleford Park in Leicestershire, England.
He dropped a shot on the fifth hole but another birdie on the eighth saw him reach the turn in four under par 33 to move to 17 under par for the tournament.
Ruangkit, who is chasing his fourth straight Senior Tour victory, also made a strong start, with three birdies in his first four holes and the Thai picked up another on the eighth to keep within four shots of Longmuir but dropped a shot on the ninth.
Englishman Roger Chapman also reached the turn in 33 following four birdies and a bogey on the fifth hole to sit three shots further back at the halfway mark of the final round.
Chapman was joined by his compatriot John Harrison, who was bidding to become the youngest Senior Tour winner at just 50 years and eight days. The winner of the Senior Tour Qualifying School birdied the eighth hole to move to ten under par.
Ryder Cup Captains Sam Torrance and Ian Woosnam both carded rounds of 70 to finish on three under par and two under par respectively.
