Rafferty goes low in the Netherlands

Ronan Rafferty (NIR) during the 2014 Senior Open Championship at Royal Porthcawl. Picture: David Lloyd / www.golffile.ie

Ronan Rafferty hit five birdies and an eagle in a best of the day 68 to move up to tied sixth in the Dutch Senior Open in Amsterdam.

The former European No 1, 50, is five shots behind Phil Golding, who shot a two under 71 to lead by a shot from Ian Woonam and George Ryall on seven under par.

Playing alongside Des Smyth, who shot a three over 76 to slp back to tied 35th on four over, Rafferty opened with a bogey on the the 10th at The International but then birdied three in a row from the 14th and eagled the par-five 18th to turn in 32.

He came home in one under 36 with a bogey six at the first cancelled out by birdies at the third and ninth for a 68 that was the best score of the day by a stroke from Ian Woosnam and Carl Mason. 

European Ryder Cup skipper at The K Club in 2006, Woosnam was well off the pace after making quadruple bogey at the second but responded superbly with eight birdies to go into the final round tied with Ryall on six under par 140.

Philip Walton moved up to tied 29th on three over after a 72 with Smyth a shot futher back in tied 35th.

But Cork's Denis O'Sullivan fell from 10th to 42nd on five over after a 79.