Sharvin knocking on the door again in Brabazon Trophy

Gavin Moynihan. Picture: Pat Cashman

Ardglass’ Cormac Sharvin has been threatening to pull off a win for several weeks. Now he has a chance to finally do it after a five under par 67 gave him a one-stroke lead heading into Saturday’s final round of the Brabazon Trophy at Notts Golf Club.

The former Irish Close and reigning British Universities cjhampion had five birdies in an immaculate round to lead by just one stroke on five under from Scotland’s Ewen Ferguson (71) and English pair Jonathan THompson (66) and Ben Taylor.

Scoring

Sharvin’s round began with a birdie on the first and ended with a great par save on the last, when he got up and down from 80 yards, to keep it bogey free.

“I’ve been playing nicely, but not getting the most out of my rounds so I knew there was a low one in there,” Sharvin told Englandgolf.org. “This was one of the best rounds of golf I have played tee-to-green and it could have been a really low one.

“But I started the day five behind so I’m happy to have put myself in contention, I’ve been in contention a few times this year and it’s a nice place to be.”

Ranked 33rd in the world, Sharvin was secodn in the Lytham Trophy and the Irish Amateur Open before coming home third in the Scottish Strokeplay.

He knows a win would secure a Walker Cup place that looks increasingly probable but there are other Irishmen with chances of victory.

Naas’ Jack Hume (69) is just two shots off the pace in a tie for fifth with Greystones’ Paul Dunne (68) and Ballymena’s Dermot McElroy (70)  just three behind Sharvin on two unde.

The Island’s Gavin Moynihan and Kevin LeBlanc are also near the top of the leaderboard. 

Moynihan’s 70 left him five behind in solo 20th on level par with LeBlanc (72) a shot further back in 21st.

Warrenpoint’s Colm Campbell (73) is 32nd on three over with Whitehead’s John-Ross Galbraith (72) and Naas Conor O’Rourke (75) tied 37th on four over.

Paul McBride (76) is tied 43rd on five over with Daniel Holland (77) eight over.

The final round starts at 7.30am with the final pair of Sharvin and Thomson teeing off at 11.38am.