Power and Rafferty facing final round test

Seamus Power is just inside the qualifying places with a round to go in his Stage One Qualifier at the PGA Tour Q-SchoolSeamus Power faces a nerve-wracking battle to keep his PGA Tour dream alive at the first stage of the Q-School in North Carolina.

The West Waterford star saw his qualifying hopes complicated at The Club at Irish Creek when he shot a level par 71 in the third round that left him tied for 14th on four under par and just inside the top 19 and ties who will qualify for next month’s second stage on four under par.

Tyrone’s Fergal Rafferty is just a stroke outside the top 18 at Lantana Golf Club in Texas, where he continued his fightback from an opening 76 by adding a two under par 70 to his second round 69.

The Dungannon man was one over after six holes but birdied the ninth, 11th and 12th to keep his qualifying hopes alive on one under par.

Mark Murphy putting under the watchful eye of Ryan DillonBut Waterville’s Mark Murphy could need an eight under par 62 in the final round of his qualifier at Lake Caroline Golf Club in Mississippi to keep his American dream alive.

The Kerryman carded a one over par 71 in the third round in Madison to share 43rd place on three over par, eight shots outside the top 16 and ties who qualify.

Murphy at least knows that it’s possible to go low after watching Phoenix’s Ryan Dillon shoot a 62 in the group in front. In fact, Murphy even had a putting less with Dillon after his round.

“A day of mud balls, divots & a cold putter,” Murphy tweeted. “Shot 71 have some work to do 2morrow, putting lesson from Mr 62, Ryan Dillon.”

Former Shamrock Rovers winger Stephen Grant had an eagle and three birdies in a one under 71 at Grasslands Golf Club in Florida. But at two over par he’s 11 strokes outside the qualifying places.

Things also looked bleak for Ballymena’s Chris Devlin, who was seven strokes outside the top 19 at Dayton Valley Golf Club in Nevada after adding a one under 71 to previous round of 73 and 75.

Devlin is tied for 51st place on three over, 13 off the lead.