TORRANCE SLIPS TO 74 - SEVEN SHOTS
BEHIND LEADER IN IRISH SENIORS

By STEVEN FRANKLIN
European Seniors Tour Press Officer

England’s Kevin Spurgeon drained a 40ft birdie putt at the last to vault into contention for his maiden European Seniors title at the AIB Irish Seniors Open, in association with Greenstar and Fáilte Ireland, today..
The Bournemouth golfer, who also chipped in from a bunker at the fifth during his round of 70, will go into Sunday’s final round at the spectacular PGA National Ireland lay-out to the west of Dublin within three shots of the lead held by former Senior Major winner Stewart Ginn of Australia.
Ginn, who marked his 58th birthday today with a round of 71 to move to six under par 138, is two strokes clear of Costantino Rocca, the Italian former Ryder Cup player and a past winner in Ireland at the West of Ireland Golf Classic in 1999, and Doug Johnson of the United States, both of whom returned 71s.
Juan Quiros of Spain produced a best-of-the-day 68 to move to three under 141 alongside Spurgeon, who leads the British challenge.
Defending champion Sam Torrance slipped to a 74 and is seven shots off the pace.

SECOND-ROUND LEADERS
Par 144 (2 x 72)
138 Stewart Ginn (Aus) 67 71
140 Costantino Rocca (Ita) 69 71, Doug Johnson (US) 69 71
141 Juan Quiros (Esp) 73 68, Kevin Spurgeon (Eng) 71 70
142 David Merriman (Aus) 72 70
143 Peter O’Hagan (Ire) 72 71, Gavan Levenson (SAf) 68 75
144 David Good (Aus) 73 71, John Bland (SAf) 71 73, Horacio Carbonetti (Arg) 71 73, Alan Tapie (US) 69 75.
145 Angel Fernandez (Chi) 74 71, Tony Allen (Eng) 73 72, Guillermo Encina (Chi) 72 73, Sam Torrance (Sco) 71 74.
146 Bob Cameron (Eng) 74 72, Martin Gray (Sco) 74 72, Carl Mason (Eng) 73 73, Terry Gale (Aus) 73 73, Bobby Lincoln (SAf) 73 73.
147 Nick Job (Eng) 73 74, Luis Carbonetti (Arg) 73 74, Giuseppe Cali (Ita) 75 72, José Rivero (Spa) 75 72.
147 Tony Johnstone (Zim) 73 74, Glenn Ralph (Eng) 73 74, Denis O'Sullivan (Ire) 74 73, Delroy Cambridge (Jam) 77 70.
148 Ross Drummond (Sco) 74 74, Simon Owen (NZ) 75 73, John Chillas (Sco) 71 77, Eamonn Darcy (Ire) 71 77, Gery Watine (Fra) 74 74.
Other Scots' scores:
149 Bill Longmuir 72 77 (jt 35th).
150 Mike Miller 73 77 (jt 39th).
153 Steve Martin 75 78 (jt 56th).