Four Irish players are still in with a shout of securing their European Tour cards after the first three rounds of the qualifying school in Spain, but three others are unlikely to survive the cut after today's fourth round.
Damien McGrane (73) and former tour player Paddy Gribben (71) are best of the Irish on one-over-par 217, tied for 47th place. Damian Mooney (77) is a shot further back, while former Ryder Cup star Philip Walton is right on the cut line after a 74 yesterday.
After today, only the top 75 and ties go through to the final 36 holes to try for the 35 tour cards on offer.
But for Jim Carvill, after an opening 80, Gary Murphy and Sean Quinlivan the dream must wait for another year.
The leaderboard is dominated by non-European players. Belgian teenager Nicolas Colsaerts, who turned professional on his 18th birthday last week, shot a four-under-par 68 at Sotogrande to move from two behind to two in front of South African Desvonde Botes.
Five players are tied for third - New Zealander Elliot Boult, Argentine pair Jorge Berendt and Gustavo Rojas, another South African in Tjaart Van der Walt and former English amateur champion Shaun Webster.
