South African Desvonde Botes is odds on to win the £13,800 first prize at the European tour qualifying school at San Roque in Spain today. The 26-year-old stands an impressive 16 under par after five of the six rounds - six shots clear of Nicolas Colsaerts, the Belgian who turned professional on his 18th birthday last Tuesday.
While he and Colsaerts, himself a stroke in front of third-placed New Zealander Elliot Boult, are breezing through one of the toughest weeks in golf, there will be pressure on every shot former Ryder Cup pair Philip Walton and Steve Richardson play in the final 18 holes.
A total of 35 places on next season's £50 million circuit are up for grabs and Walton is in a tie for 41st while Richardson, second on the Order of Merit in 1991, stands joint 47th. Richardson, who has survived the last two qualifying schools, said after a 73: "It doesn't get any easier and the last round is the one which is hardest for everyone. Six rounds just wears you down. But I'm glad it is this long because if it had been the normal four I wouldn't have got a card. This way I've still got a chance, but I need a good round now."
Walton, who blew his hopes with a fifth-round 81 last year, matched Richardson's 73 this time, but two bogeys in the last four holes have left the Dubliner probably needing a closing 71 to make it through and revive his career.
Of the other Irish survivors, Damian McGrane also returned a 73 to be on the 362-mark with Walton while Paddy Gribben had a 76 for 366. A 79 put Damian Mooney out of the reckoning.
The task facing Cambridge's Russell Claydon, winner of the BMW International only two years ago and a member of England's Dunhill Cup side the previous season, is pretty demanding.
A drive out of bounds on the sixth - his 15th on the day - cost Claydon a double-bogey six, and with a 75 he fell from 57th overnight to 65th.
Justin Rose, 17-year-old amateur star of the 1998 Open, is up to 15th after a 72, however, and Bournemouth's 23-year-old Shaun Webster improved from 10th to fourth with a 69.
Webster is the player penalised two shots and £500 for slow play at the school last year. He has not only avoided a repeat of that this time but also put behind him the disappointment of Cuba earlier this month.
The former English amateur champion went there in position to qualify for the main circuit off the Challenge Tour but finished next-to-last and missed out by less than £330.
Scot Graham Rankin went even closer, finishing £280 away from a card - but he has made handsome amends as well. A 67 yesterday - 11 strokes better than his fourth round - takes him into the last day in 10th place.
For the second day running Rose eagled the long ninth. But a hooked drive into water three holes later led to a double-bogey six, and three putts on the last green mean he cannot relax yet.
"This is the first time I've ever played a six-round tournament and I'm feeling tired," admitted leader Botes following his 70.
