Hacienda del Alamo pack

of four have sights set on

leader Ian Brotherston

The stage is set for an exciting last day's play under some glorious Costa Calida sunshine for the Scottish Senior Golfing Society's Spanish Festival's Murcia Seniors Open.
Ian Brotherston (Dumfries & Co) shot a one-over-par 73 over the Dave Thomas-designed championship course at Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort today which left the door open for the over-50s "big guns" to get him in their sights in the third and final round.
Brotherston's 36-hole tally of 147 is only two shots clear of a chasing pack of four - Aberdeen's George Paterson from Northern, Monifieth's former Walker Cup player and past Scottish champion Ian Hutcheon, Ian Taylor (Royal Burgess) and Jim Kinloch (Cardross).
a 71 by George Paterson (pictured above by Cal Carson Golf Agency) was the first sub-par score of the tournament and Hutcheon and Taylor both improved by five shots with par-matching scores.
Jim Kinloch, the overnight joint leader with Brotherston, slipped back with a 75 for 149 but he is still 12 shots ahead of twin brother Peter (Ian Hutcheon is 10 shots ahead of his twin brother Fred).
John Lang (Bruntsfield Links), who plays off five, is leading the handicap race with a net two-round total of 144 - one shot ahead of two-handicappers Jim Kinloch and Ian Taylor.

REPORT BY KEITH HOWIE (SSGS vice-captain)

Another glorious Costa Calida day as the big guns began to mount their challenges for the Murcia Seniors Open title.

The par-3 eighth hole is one of the defining factors with many of the contenders. A tough, front- left pin position meant that anyone going past the pin was staring at a double bogey at best, including this writer who suffered his third in a row. Eight was the highest score at that hole but the victim wishes to remain anonymous.

Brilliant golf course here at Hacienda del Alamo.

Top match in final round will see Hutch, Brotherston and Paterson tee off together.

MURCIA SENIORS OPEN SCOREBOARD
Second round totals
Par 144 (2 x 72)
147 Ian Brotherston (Dumfries & Co) 74 73.
149 George Paterson (Northern) 78 71, Ian Hutcheon (Monifieth) 77 72, Ian Taylor (Royal Burgess) 77 72, Jim Kinloch (Cardross) 74 75.
151 Gordon MacDonald (Callander) 79 72, Derek Murphy (Kinross) 78 73.
153 Bob Stewart (Tulliallan) 76 77, John McDonald (Cowglen) 76 77.
154 Derek Sim (Monifieth) 78 74, John Lang (Bruntsfield Links) 77 77.
155 George Rodaks (Moffat) 78 77, James Johnston (Northumberland) 78 77, Sandy Pirie (Hazlehead) 78 77, Alan MacNaught (Colchester) 77 79, David Smith (Stirling) 77 79.
157 David Doodson (Temple) 78 78, Keith Howie (West Kilbride) 77 80.
158 Billy Wallace (Strathaven) 80 78, Jim Pagan (Peterborough Milton) 80 78.
159 David Millar (St Andrews New) 78 81, Fred Hutcheon (Monifieth) 78 81, Ken Forrest (Lenzie) 76 83.
161 Peter Kinloch (Cardross) 84 77, Andrew Laird (Deeside) 82 79, Alasdair Brown (Merchants of Edinburgh) 81 80, Iain Jeen (Milngavie) 80 81, Jim Graham (Clober) 79 82.

LEADING HANDICAP SCORES

144 John Lang (Bruntsfield Links) (5).

145 Jim Kinloch (Cardross) (2), Ian Taylor (Royal Burgess) (2).

146 Derek Sim (Monifieth) (3), Dieter Lotz (Hacienda del Alamo).

147 James Johnston (Northumberland) (4), David Doodson (Temple) (5).

148 Alan MacNaught (Chelmsford) (4), Billy Wallace (Strathaven) (5).

149 Keith Howie (West Kilbride) (4), Derek Murphy (Kinross) (1), John McDonald (Cowglen) (2), George Paterson (Northern) (scr), Mike Jones (Sensol Golf).