O'Keeffe on track at Q-School

By Brian Keogh

Amateur Peter O'Keeffe is on track to make it to next week's European Tour Qualifying School Finals in Spain.

And Belfast's Damian Mooney looks certain to join him from Stage Two of the Q-School where 308 hopefuls are battling at four venues for 78 spots at San Roque.

Cork ace O'Keeffe hit a level par 72 at Sherry Golf to go into the final round in a share of sixth place with the top 18 to qualify.

Mick McGeady's 74 left him tied 29th and needing a sub 70 round to take his place in the finals, where the top 30 get cards.

But things are looking good for Mooney, 39, who is tied ninth at Costa Ballena after a 71.

Fellow Ulsterman Michael Hoey said goodbye to his chances with a 74 but World Cup partner Gareth Maybin still has an outside chance of winning his card.

Playing at Arcos Gardens, Maybin fell to tied 33rd with Chris Devlin after a 74 while Glen Robinson is just a shot further back after a solid 71.

Devlin and Maybin are three shots outside the top 19 who qualify but it's even tighter at PGA de Catalunya.

Irish Region No 1 Simon Thornton is tied 19th with 17 to qualify while Noel Fox is just outside two shots outside the qualifying spots on level par after a 73.

Welshman Sion Bebb leads by four shots on 13 under par at Sherry Golf with Aussie Adam Bland and French amateur Adrien Bernadet also on 13 under at Costa Ballena.

France's Benoit Teilleria is four clear at PGA de Catalunya while Islander Birgir Hafthorsson hit a 65 at Arcos Gardens to lead by a shot on 11 under.

Irish scoreboard

Costa Ballena (Par 72, 20 qualify)
T9 D Mooney (NIr) 65 73 71 209; T 71 M Hoey (NIr) 75 73 74 222;

Arcos Gardens (Par 72, 19 qualify)
T33 G Maybin (NIr) 73 69 74 216, C Devlin (NIr) 71 72 73 216; T39 G Robinson (Irl) 72 74 71 217; T 53 M McDermott (Irl) 75 73 73 221.

PGA de Catalunya (Par 72, 17 qualify)
T19 S Thornton (Irl) 69 74 72 215; T 23 N Fox (Irl) 72 71 73 216; T47 G Cullen (Irl) 72 75 74 221; T 66 R Kilpatrick (NIr) 74 77 79 230.

Sherry Golf (Par 72, 18 qualify)
T6 P O'Keeffe (Irl) 71 68 72 211; T29 M McGeady (Irl) 73 69 74 216; T65 A Murray (Irl) 78 73 74 225.