Irish have it all to do at Tour School

The European Tour Qualifying School hopefuls are preparing for a nerve wracking final day at Stage Two, where a total of 95 players…

The European Tour Qualifying School hopefuls are preparing for a nerve wracking final day at Stage Two, where a total of 95 players from three venues will be granted the opportunity to fight for next season's card on the European Tour at the Finals in Spain next weekend.

It is sure to be a tense final round finish at St Cyprien Golf Club in France, and the two Spanish venues, Peralada Golf Club and TorreMirona Golf Club - a tension that will only be heightened by the prospect of a play-off at any one, or all three courses, given that ties will not be taken into consideration in the race for qualification.

At St Cyprien, where there are 29 places available for the Finals next week, there are currently 32 players on three under par or better - with the leader, Frenchman Philippe Lima, sitting two shots clear of Sweden's Mattias Nilsson on 14 under par 205, after a brilliant third round 65.

There are six Irishmen all fighting to make it into the final stages with former British Amateur champion Michael Hoey spearheading the home front. The Belfast man shot a third round 68 to get within eight of the lead on six under.

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Fellow Belfast professional Damian Mooney is three shots further back after yesterday's 71, while Portmarnock amateur Noel Fox is two under after a third round 74.

Ciaran McMonagle (71) and Richie Coughlan (69) have much work to do if they are to elevate themselves from their start of one over today. Likewise Stephen Browne (71), who starts from a shot further back.

Mathew Cort of England, Welshman Stuart Manley and Antonio Sobrinho from Portugal share the lead at Perelada Golf Club, after respective third rounds 65, 65 and 68 gave all three players an 11 under par aggregate of 203.

Waterville's David Higgins is the only Irishman at Perelada, and like some of his fellow countrymen, he needs a good final day. Higgins is currently two over after his third round 68.

The 54 hole cut at TorreMirona Golf Club was also set at six over par - with the field now reduced from 86 to 76 players. There are 34 players currently occupying the 33 qualification spots.

Jesus Maria Arruti of Spain holds a two stroke lead over Englishman Benn Barham at the 6763 yard par 72 venue, Arruti firing a third round 65 for 12 under par 204 while Barham conjured a magical 64 to lie on ten under - one clear of America's Andrew Johnson and Englishman Tom Whitehouse, who are tied for third place.

Northern Ireland's Chris Devlin, like Higgins, cuts a lone Irish figure at TorreMirona and finds himself 10 off the pace on two under after yesterday's 71.