Whiteford makes it three and easy as he chases victory in Malaga

Published on 27/03/2010 20:48

SCOTLAND'S Peter Whiteford is in the hunt just four shots off the pace going into the final round of the Andalucian Open in Malaga today.

Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa takes a one-shot lead over England's Robert Coles into the final day, but Whiteford put himself in contention with his third successive round in the 60s yesterday. A three-under-par 67 leaves him on 10 under, and first-round leader Paul Lawrie from Aberdeen is just one further back and still in with a chance after posting a 68 yesterday.

An impressive 65 from Stephen Gallacher leaves the Bathgate man well-placed on eight under and Helensburgh's Gary Orr is on the same mark after signing for 66.

Oosthuizen's round of 66 gives him another chance to win his first European Tour title – and with it a place in the Masters.

Runner-up to Welshman Rhys Davies in Morocco last week after leading by three with 15 holes to play, Oosthuizen needs a victory in his bid for a second successive trip to Augusta. "It's a low-scoring course, but the thing is you can try and attack it too much and make stupid bogeys. I made a few today," he said.

Coles, 37, from Essex, has been on and off the Tour since his debut in 1995, making ten trips to the qualifying school and never finishing higher than third.

His 63 was his lowest round in 267 tournaments and lifted him from ninth to second while fellow Englishman Sam Hutsby, the joint overnight leader, dropped back to joint fifth on 10 under with a level par 70.

Spaniard Gabriel Canizares, who on Friday had the first albatross of the Tour season, is only two behind on 12 under following a 65. The son of former Ryder Cup player Jose Maria, he stands 1,362nd in the world – joint last with no points.