Grant facing tough task at Q-School
Stephen Grant
Mike Kelly missed the 54-hole cut by eight shots but there's still a slim chance that former footballer Stephen Grant can make it through to next month's Second Stage of the European Tour Qualifying School in Spain.
As Charlie Harrison leapfrogged Ryan Brown at the top of the leaderboard at Frilford Heath in the Qualifying School’s First Stage Section D event, Kelly crashed to a third round 80 to miss the cut.
Grant shot a one under 71 to make it on the four over par limit but with only the top 23 and ties progressing to the next stage, he's seven shots outside the qualifying mark with a round to play.
Harrison posted his second flawless round in a row, carding a three under par 69 around the Red Course at the Oxfordshire venue, moving to 13 under par to knock Brown off the top of the leaderboard.
Having carded only one solitary bogey all week, Harrison will be confident of advancing from the 97 man field at Frilford to the Second Qualifying Stage in Spain, which commences on November 7.
In the other First Stage Section D event at Ribagolfe, Lisbon, there was similar joy for Alfredo Garcia-Heredia who moved top of the pile with a two under par 70. The Spaniard’s fine finish, with two birdies in the last three holes, ensured he reached eight under par for the tournament
Joining Garcia-Heredia at the top is Iceland’s Birgir Hafthorsson, who like Garcia-Heredia, birdied two of the last three holes to card a three under par 69 and share the lead at eight under.
The duo are one shot clear of four chasing players at seven under par, which means chances of progression look favourable as 22nd place, including ties, and better will advance from the 94 man field in Portugal.