GUISEPPE Cali, a stylish Italian who won the Bendinat London Senior Masters at the start of July, has established a three-shot lead going into today's fourth and final round of the PGA Seniors Championship at Stoke by Nayland.

GUISEPPE Cali, a stylish Italian who won the Bendinat London Senior Masters at the start of July, has established a three-shot lead going into today's fourth and final round of the PGA Seniors Championship at Stoke by Nayland.

Cali, with Suffolk Seniors player Alec Giddens on his bag, had seven birdies yesterday but dropped a shot on the 10th in his second successive round of 66.

The Italian started the day two shots behind the holder and tournament favourite Sam Torrance. At first Cali was holding on with grit and determination. Torrance was five under after eight and there seemed to be no stopping his charge towards the title.

Then everything started to change. Torrance dropped a shot at the 10th and was never able to reignite the spark. Further bogeys followed at the 12th and 14th when he struggled to escape the trees. Then his broom handle putter let him down from short range on the final green just as it had with a birdie opportunity on the 16th.

If Torrance recovers his form today it should develop into a tremendous spectacle as he battles to retain the title he won at the De Vere Carden Park last year. Play starts at 9.10am with the final group on the tee at 12.30pm.

Luis Carbonetti, the Argentinian, is also three shots behind Cali after a round of 65 that included four birdies on each nine and a dropped shot at the 10th, which was causing all sorts of problems with water to be cleared twice.

Bill Longmuir was almost keeping pace with Torrance on Saturday until he missed short putts on the final two greens and was later to be seen practising his putting stroke in the car park. Longmuir is by no means out of contention.

First round pacemaker John Chillas was another to find trouble at the 10th on Saturday after which he slipped down the leaderboard.

Two Suffolk players made the cut. Robin Mann of Felixstowe Golf Range looks poised to collect a sizeable cheque if he can maintain his consistency today.

Mann enjoyed a blemish-free round of 67 on Saturday. Yesterday he put his drive in trouble down the left on the second hole which cost him a double bogey. He hit back with a birdie at the third and steadied the boat well for a round of 71. He has birdied the par-five 14th hole in all three rounds.

Frank Hill of Thorpeness produced a tenacious effort from a club professional in amongst regular tournament players, many of them with European Tour and Ryder Cup experience.

Hill had South African Jeff Hawkes for company in the first two rounds. Yesterday his playing partners were Jose Rivero of Spain, third on the Order of Merit, and Chilean Guillermo Encina, who started with four successive birdies in his round of 67.

Hill dropped a shot at the 10th when he had to chip out from close to the lake. He had a double bogey at the 12th after a weak chip and a missed short putt. Otherwise he was round in par although a birdie chance went begging at the 16th.

The Gainsborough course once again looked a picture with the greens being praised as the best the European Seniors Tour players have seen all year.

There should be a big Bank Holiday crowd today. Not only is a tremendous finish in prospect but it's a great chance to watch such big names as John Bland, Eamonn Darcy, Manuel Pinero, Tony Johnstone, Carl Mason and Seiji Ebihara display their skills on a Suffolk course.

Scores after 54 holes

199 (17 under): G Cali (Italy) 67 66 66.

202: S Torrance (De Vere Belfry) 65 66 71, L Carbonetti (Argentina) 68 69 65.

204: D Johnson (USA) 70 65 69. B Longmuir (London Golf Club) 67 67 70.

205: J Bland (South Africa) 69 68 68.

206: T Johnstone (Zimbabwe) 67 69 70, N Job (Drift) 67 68 71.

207: E Darcy (Druids Glen) 69 65 73.

208: M Poxon (England) 68 71 69.

209: S Owen (Locheagles) 68 75 66.

210: G Encina (Chile) 74 69 67, P Dugeny (France) 69 73, 68.

211: J Rivero (Spain) 70 73 68, M Foster (Bradford Moor) 71 71 69, R Mann (Felixstowe Golf Range) 73 67 71, R Stelten (USA) 70 70 71, J Chillas (Glenbervie) 64 74 73, D Cambridge (Jamaica) 70 67 74.

212: A Mew (Stoneham) 70 74 68, M Pinero (Spain) 71 71 70, A Fernandez (Spain) 69 73 70, B Smit (Royal Cape) 70 70 72, J P Sallat (France) 72 68 72, G Watine (USA) 67 73 72, J Hawkes (Swinley Forest) 68 71 73, C Mason (England) 71 68 73.

213: G Ralph (Camberley Heath) 72 71 70, S Martin (Scotland) 68 74 71, J Benda (USA) 70 72 71, D Good (Australia) 72 70 71, B Cameron (Longmere Golf) 70 72 71, D J Russell (Archerfield Links) 67 74 72, K Spurgeon (Ferndown) 71 70 72, T Gale (Australia) 70 70 73.

214: S Ebihara (Japan) 72 73 69, G Townhill (Brough) 73 71 70, G J Brand (Marriott Hollins Hall) 72 71 71.

215: M Ferguson (Australia) 74 70 71, E Rodriguez (Spain) 72 71 72, N Ratcliffe (Australia) 71 70 74.

216: J Heggarty (Northern Ireland) 73 72 71, D O'Sullivan (Ireland) 72 71 73, B Larratt (Kibworth) 72 71 73, J Mashego (South Africa) 74 69 73.

217: P O'Boyle (Ireland) 69 75 73, G Harvey (Bearsden Golf Range) 70 72 75.

218: T Charnley (England) 73 72 73, F Hill (Thorpeness) 71 72 75, S Wild (Trentham) 69 73 76.

219: M Miller (Scotland) 74 71 74, B Lincoln (South Africa) 69 73 77.

220: D Creamer (England) 71 74 75, M Gray (Ladybank) 74 70 76, I Richardson (Burghley Park) 73 71 76,

221: J Rhodes (La Meridien Penina) 74 71 76, M Williams (Reading) 74 71 77.

222: I Mosey (England) 70 72 80.

223: M Gallagher (Farthingstone) 75 70 78,

224: D Stirling (Wien-Sussenbrunn) 75 69 80.

Among those who missed the cut

147: M Bembridge (England) 72 75/

148: G Burroughs (Boyce Hill) 72 76, E Polland (Ireland) 76 72, D Jagger (Hull) 77 71.

149: M White (Penfold Park) 77 72, J Bruner (USA) 73 76, M Gregson (Carlyon Bay Hotel) 74 75, M Calero (Spain) 71 78.

150: C Defoy (Coombe Hill) 73 77.

152: J Hudson (Rivenhall Oaks) 79 73, L Platts (Three Rivers) 76 76.

155: M Jillings (Bury St Edmunds) 78 77.

170: C Aldred (Flempton) 87 83.