Sean Quinlivan and Jim Carvill spent all day waiting to start the fourth round of the PGA European Tour School at stormy Guadalmina yesterday, where Italian professional Alberto Binaghi had a narrow escape from death. The 32-year-old doctor's son from Milan was struck by lightning as he walked, umbrella in hand, between a refreshment kiosk and a toilet block beside the sixth tee, and was hurled to the ground.

He was taken to hospital, where doctors assured him he had suffered no lasting damage, and advised that he should return to his hotel and rest. But Binaghi regarded himself as lucky to be still alive. Along with the rest of the field, he had been ordered from the course because of an impending storm, and did not realise he was in danger.

"I was only two yards from shelter when my umbrella was hit and I was hurled to the ground," he said. "For 20 minutes I could not move my legs and the guys who were behind me said I was alight from head to toe. Three hours afterwards I still had cramp in my legs, and the doctors at the hospital told me that if I had taken another two seconds of that lightning in my body I would have been dead."

Bingahi, who is making his sixth visit to the annual Tour School, had played 13 holes of the fourth round before play was halted by the midday electrical storm which also disrupted play at the San Roque headquarters course.

The top three Irish contenders for Tour cards all remained on course to achieve their goal despite having to leave the course when play was suspended for an hour, and on their return had to deal with saturated fairways that had everyone constantly seeking relief from casual water.

Milltown's Francis Howley is the best placed, after shooting 71 for a three-under-par total of 285, one better than David Higgins who had 73. Walker Cup international Richard Coughlan shot 72 to also be under par at the 72-hole stage, on a total of 287.

He is joined there by Ballymena-born Cameron Clark, who had 70 for 287, while Ulster's Stephen Hamill also shot par 72 for a three-over-par 291.

Because of the poor weather, and more is forecast, School director Andy McFee has decided to reduce the event to 90 holes. A total of 86 players at Guadalmina will complete their fourth rounds today, and a further 27 will do so at San Roque. After that the leading 75 and ties will go forward to the fifth and final round tomorrow, after which the leading 40 and ties will be handed their Tour cards.

The prospects look bright for Howley, who had three birdies in a solid performance that has guaranteed him at least category 14 status on the European circuit next season. If he maintains his three-under-par position, he will move up to category 12 as a School graduate, a distinction he achieved last year.

Higgins looks likely to regain his card, for he is playing better than he is scoring, while Coughlan's determination to achieve a School "double" by winning his European and US Tour cards is firing his efforts.

The spotlight today will be on Quinlivan, who needs to have no worse than 73 at Guadalmina to maintain a realistic chance of a top 40 place. That should not be beyond his capacity after his third round 68 at San Roque where he regained his putting touch with six birdies.

But for Kent-based club professional John Murray there is only next year to look forward to. He managed to play 10 holes of round four at Guadalmina yesterday, but was then 17-over-par, and in the interests of a speedy conclusion, officialdom will turn a blind eye if he decides not to reappear this morning.

Clubhouse leaders are Dutchman Robert Jan Derksen and Swede Fredrik Henge, on eight under par 280, but Londoner Phil Golding is nine below with three holes remaining at San Roque.