Paul McBride looks set to move on to the next stage of DP World Tour Q-School as he heads into the final round of First Stage Qualifying in a share of sixth place in Italy.
The 26-year-old started and ended day three at Bogogno Golf Resort with a bogey, but in between those he once again excelled as three birdies and an eagle led to a three-under 69 and moved him up to 12-under-par.
With the top-21 and ties progressing to the Second Stage, McBride is in a strong position, although he is six shots back of leader Floris de Haas going into day four.
The Dutchman holds a three-shot lead at 18-under-par after signing for six birdies in a bogey-free six-under 66 to jump to the top of the leaderboard, with the USA’s Dan Erickson and Italy’s Filippo Celli at 15-under.
Conor O’Rourke, meanwhile, had a superb day as a 65 of his own took him up to 10-under-par and into a share of 14th, nine birdies and two bogeys putting him in a good position to qualify, while Naas man Jonathan Yates is right on the line as a 70 took him to eight-under, tied for 21st.
Barring some excellent golf in their final rounds, the road looks to be over for Rowan Lester, James Sugrue, Michael Young and Darren McHale, however.
A one-under 71 in round three from Lester took him up to four-under-par, and he’s four back of the line to progress heading into day four, while Sugrue also shot a 71 but that was only good enough to reach level-par.
A four-over 76 looks to have nixed Young’s hopes as he has dropped back to one-over, and McHale signed for an 84 to drop to 23-over-par.
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