Cian McNamara and Tim Rice are in a tie for 43rd on two over par after the third round lead at First Stage Qualifying Section C at Golf d’Hardelot.
It’s been a case of one step forward and as many back over the first three rounds for the pair as some great golf has been overshadowed by too many mistakes at the ultra-competitive Q-School classroom.
Monkstown’s McNamara had open his challenge with a 68, but efforts of 75 and 72 have left him well off the pace heading into the final day. And it’s been a similar tale for Limerick’s Rice, though a 69 yesterday was much improved after opening score of 74 and 72.
Only 18 holes remain at Golf d’Hardelot where the top 21 and ties will progress to Second Stage in Spain and the lads will know that low they must go in a bid to get there.
It’s looking very French at the head of affairs as Franck Daux and Antoine Rozner carded rounds of 66 and 67 respectively to share the third round lead on 13 under par.
Also moving into the contention was compatriot Mathieu Decottignies-Lafon, whose bogey-free round of 65 was as good as it got in France.
Meanwhile at Ribagolfe in Portugal, Tramore’s Robin Dawson heads the Irish Challenge going into today’s final round on four under par. The former Maynooth man added a 71 to opening rounds of 68 and 73 to share a tie for 22nd at the qualifying event.
Just behind him in a share of 27th sits David Carey who bounced back from a second round 75 with a brave 70 to get to three under par, while Brendan McCarroll had a disappointing third round 75 after starting so well, but remains very much in the hunt, a shot further adrift at two under.
Spain’s Sebastian Garcia Rodriguez remained on top of the leaderboard for a third day running after a two under par score of 70.
Also impressing in the Algarve was Walker Cup star Jack Singh Brar, whose third round 67 took him into a share of fourth place.
One round is left to play at Ribagolfe where the top the top 21 and ties will progress to Second Stage in Spain.
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