Super Power works at school

The 7th on the Members Course at Redstone, where Seamus Power is tied for seventh with a round to go at the second stage of the PGA Tour Q-School.Seamus Power took another giant step towards his PGA Tour dream in the second stage of the US Q-School in Texas.

The West Waterford man shot a one-under par 71 in the third round of his qualifier at Redstone near Houston to share seventh place at a venue where the top 20 and ties will go through to the six-round final stage at the end of the month.

At seven-under par, the former East Tennessee State player is seven shots off the lead but also a comfortable three strokes inside that vital top-20.

Seamus PowerIf he holds on, the three-time Irish Youths champion will be guaranteed a place on the second tier Nationwide Tour next season. But his goal will be to go on and finish in the top 30 after six rounds at PGA West in California, earning his place alongside the likes of Padraig Harrington, Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell on the PGA Tour in 2012.

While Power has just one more round to negotiate in Texas, Ulstermen Chris Devlin and Fergal Rafferty have work to do over the final 36-holes of their qualifiers in Florida.

Ballymena native Devlin bogeyed his last two holes as he slipped back to tied 26th with a two-over 73 at Hombre Golf Club in Panama City in the Florida Panhandle, his adopted home. But at two over par, Devlin is just one stroke outside the top 21 and ties who will qualify for the gruelling final stage.

It’s looking a lot tougher for Dungannon’s Fergal Rafferty at Plantation Preserve Golf Course & Club near Fort Lauderdale, despite carding a four under 67 in the second round.

The former Irish youths international is tied 57th on one-under par and a massive nine shots outside the top 20 and ties who qualify.