Boonchu Ruangkit is closing in on the European Senior Tour Order of Merit crown following a superb front nine as rival Chris Williams faltered in the final round of the OKI Castellón Senior Tour Championship.
The Thai, who has won four times this season, carded five birdies to reach the turn in 31 and surge up the leaderboard and into the top ten as he attempts to seal the John Jacobs Trophy.
Ruangkit is hoping to deny joint overnight leader Williams, who could snatch the Order of Merit crown if he wins the OKI Castellón Senior Tour Championship and Ruangkit finishes outside the top three at Club de Campo del Mediterráneo.
South African Williams, who started the day level with former Ryder Cup Captain Sam Torrance on nine under par, made a nervous start as he dropped a shot on the first hole but steadied himself with a birdie on the third.
However his challenge appeared to come unstuck on the fifth and sixth holes when he followed a bogey with a double bogey to drop off the pace.
That was being set by Spaniard José Rivero, who posted three birdies in his opening five holes to move to ten under par, while Torrance recovered from dropping a shot on the second hole with a birdie on the fifth.
Defending champion Mike Harwood is also making a move on the final day of the 2010 season, posting four birdies on his front nine to move to eight under par.
