Eamonn Darcy is 11 shots behind Scotland’s Martin Gray entering the final round of the Azores Senior Open.

The Delgany man is tied for 20th on five-over par after a three-over par 75 at Batalha Golf Club.

Denis O'Sullivan is on seven over after a 77 with Jimmy Heggarty tied 47th on 10 over after a 76.

Gray fired a 69 to take a four- shot lead over England’s Nick Job and will break new ground should he hold onto his advantage.

The Scot never won a European Tour event in a professional career spanning 36 years.

The 56 year old said: “A four shot lead is obviously a healthy one, but if the wind’s blowing hard again, that can disappear in an instant. I’ll just try to do the same things again tomorrow. Nerves won’t come into it – I’m far too old for that.”

America’s Bob Boyd, Australia’s Stewart Ginn and Argentina’s Luis Carbonetti are in a tie for third place on one under par.

Round Two Scores:
138 M Gray (Sco) 69 69
142 N Job (Eng) 73 69
143 B Boyd (USA) 72 71; S Ginn (Aus) 72 71; 71 L Carbonetti (Arg) 71 72
144 D Hospital (Esp) 72 72
145 A Fernandez (Chi) 71 74; C Milne (USA) 70 75; J Quiros (Esp) 71 74
146 D Cambridge (Jam) 74 72; C Rocca (Ita) 73 73; D Merriman (Aus) 73 73; J Bruner (USA) 73 73; J Rivero (Esp) 72 74; S Stull (USA) 72 74
147 D Good (Aus) 74 73; K Spurgeon (Eng) 73 74
148 B Cameron (Eng) 76 72; M Miller (Sco)
149 G Banister (Aus) 76 73; G Encina (Chi) 74 75; P Oakley (USA) 74 75; E Darcy (Ire) 74 75; Gordon J Brand (Eng) 74 75; B Lincoln (RSA) 72 77
150 E Rodriguez (Esp) 77 73; D J Russell (Eng) 78 72; G Watine (Fra) 75 75; J Chillas (Sco) 75 75; 75 J Benda (USA) 75 75; T Giedeon (Ger) 72 78
151 D O’Sullivan (Ire) 74 77; B Longmuir (Sco) 76 75; L Indio (Por) 78 73; J Hall (Eng) 74 77; M Pinero (Esp) 72 79 
152 C Mason (Eng) 78 74; R Drummond (Sco) 76 76
153 I Mosey (Eng) 76 77; B Larratt (Eng) 77 76; M Kierstenson (Eng) 76 77; G Cali (Ita) 78 75; A Barrera (Arg) 78 75; H Carbonetti (Arg) 75 78; R Stelten (USA) 75 78; S Martin (Sco) 75 78;    
154 J Heggarty (NIR) 78 76; J Van Wagenen (USA) 75 79; B Smit (RSA) 75 79; A Garrido (Esp) 74 80; 
155 J Mashego (RSA) 77 78
156 H Woodrome (USA) 80 76; T Rastall (Eng) 78 78; D Johnson (USA) 82 74 
157 J P Sallat (Fra) 79 78; T Jones (USA) 81 76; T Allen (Eng) 79 78; T Charnley (Eng) 78 79
158 M Poxon (Eng) 79 79; B McColl (Sco) 79 79; M Galway (Eng) 78 80
159 G Townhill (Eng) 79 80; T Price (Wal) 80 79; N Clarke (RSA) 78 81; M Bembridge (Eng) 80 79  
161 P Dugeny (Fra) 80 81
162 R Mann (Eng) 84 78
163 G Wintz (USA) 83 80; A Bownes (Eng) 83 80
166 V Garcia (Esp) 86 80
167 M Thomas (USA) 83 84  
168 B Hardwick (Can) 82 86
178 V Espirito Santo (Por) 85 93