GOLF: A third successive round in the 60s took Des Smyth to a share of second place going into today's final round of the US Champions Tour Quailfying Tournament at the Rolling Oaks course, Florida.

However, Smyth is four behind Irish Open Seniors champion, Japan's Seiji Ebihara.

Ebihara left the field behind with a blistering seven-under-par 65 yesterday for a three-round total of 200 and a four shot lead over Smyth and former Canadian Seniors champion Jim Ahern.

Smyth was again on fire over the opening holes and quickly went to four under for the day with birdies at the first and a hat-trick from the third - at which stage he led the field by one from Ebihara.

However, bogeys at the eight and ninth left Ebihara two clear at the turn which he reached in 31 and a back nine of 34 left him four ahead at the end of the day.

Smyth made a bride three at the 10th but dropped a shot at the 15th for a level par back nine for 69 while Ahern also shot 65 to join the Irishman in second place.

Meanwhile, Eamonn Darcy, after a disappointing 74 in the second round, scorched back into contention for one of the eight places on the Seniors Tour after a bogey free six-under-par 66.

Birdies at the first, fifth and sixth took him to the turn in 33 and three more on the way home at the 14th, 17th and 18th took him home in 33 for a three-round total of 209 and a share of tenth.