Four Irishmen will today strive to progress into the second qualifying stage of the European Tour School after three days of encouraging performances.

Royal Dublin’s Neil O’Briain was the big mover yesterday after sweeping up the leaderboard by 11 places with a fine three-under par 68. That gave him a 54-hole aggregate of 211, three under par and a reasonable display today will put him through to the next stage.

Limerick duo of Cian McNamara and Tim Rice, who are on 210 and 213 respectively, and Mallow-based Michael Collins, are all in qualifying positions heading into today’s final round.

O’Briain had level halves of 34 and what truly defined his round was his showing on the short holes as he recorded birdie twos on four of the five.

McNamara fired a highly-creditable 69 yesterday and it looked like being better until the climax when he had three birdies in the final four holes.

Collins returned 70 yesterday for a 212 total and Rice a 73.