Golden oldie Stephen McAllister was still in the hunt for silverware heading into the closing round of the Prostate Cancer UK Scottish Senior Open at Archerfield Links.

And the Paisley veteran admitted he was relishing the opportunity to be involved in the cut-and-thrust of a title tilt again.

McAllister, who claimed a brace of wins on the main European Tour back in 1990, was sitting just two shots behind leading duo Gordon Manson and Paul Broadhurst after a level-par 72 left him with a one-under 143.

The 53-year-old’s best finish on the European Senior Tour was fourth in the 2012 Bad Ragaz Open after a closing 65 and the Renfrewshire stalwart insisted he’s looking forward to another final day push.

McAllister said: “I don’t think anybody is going to run away with this as it’s a good, tough course and a grind so I’m very happy where I am.

“I’ve not been in this position for a while but this is where you want to be. You never lose that feeling. Even if I’m just playing a bounce game with my mates, I still want to win. You always have that bug.”

McAllister’s countryman, Bill Longmuir, was also in the thick of the title race after the 2004 Scottish Senior Open champ posted a 70 to be just a stroke off the pace.

Co-leader Manson was born in St Andrews and is now an Austrian citizen but a return trip to the land of his birth always stirs the senses.

The 55-year-old, who scored his first win on the Senior circuit in Switzerland last month, hit a 70 for his three-under tally.

He said: “The good thing about this place is that you can look across the Forth and see the Kingdom of Fife. That always inspires me.

“The win last month was the culmination of a four and half years of hard work on the Senior Tour.”

Senior Tour debutant Broadhurst was running away with the event until he leaked four shots on his last four holes in a 69 to drop back into a tie at the top.