Ireland's Michael Hoey and Gareth Maybin wobbled at the qualifier in Aruba but remained on course to grab one of five spots in November's World Cup.

After a first round 62 gave them a three shot lead, the Ulstermen slumped to a two over par 73 in the foursomes to be joined at the top by Italian brothers Edoardo and Francesco Molinari on seven under par.

Five teams qualify for the Mission Hills World Cup in China with Puerto Rico, Paraguay and Guatemala just two strokes behind Ireland and Italy in third place.

The Irish pair bogeyed the fourth and double bogeyed the ninth to drop back to six under par

But with the Italians leading in the clubhouse on seven under after a 69, Ireland came home in one under to top the 19 nations battling for places.

Bermuda are still in the running just four shots off the pace in sixth place with Venezuela a shot further back going into today's fourballs at Tierra del Sol Golf Club.

Leaderboard
Tierra del Sol, Aruba (Par 71)
135 Italy 66 69; Ireland 62 73;
137 Puerto Rico 67 70; Paraguay 66 71; Guatemala 65 72
138 Bermuda 67 71
139 Venezuela 68 71
141 Brazil 69 72
142 Czech Republic 70 72; Colombia 69 73;
143 Jamaica 69 74; Chile 68 75; Bahamas 67 76;
146 Mexico 68 78;
147 Peru 69 78;
148 Ecuador 70 78; Costa Rica 70 78;
152 El Salvador 68 84;
169 Serbia 80 89.