Casey and McElroy hang tough at Q-School; Dillon and Campbell slip up

Headfort's Brian Casey

Headfort's Brian Casey and Ballymena's Dermot McElroy are inside the top 23 and ties who qualify as they prepare for Friday's final round of the European Tour Qualifying School First Stage Section B at Collingtree Park in Northampton.

They shot two under 70s with Europro Tour regular Casey, 25, a shot inside the mark in tied 16th on five under and McElroy a shot further back after moving up five spots to tied 22nd.

But it was a costly day for the other two Irishmen in action with a 73 leaving PGA professional Joe Dillon four off the pace on level par in joint 43rd.

Warrenpoint amateur Colm Campbell Jnr shot a five over 77 and as he lies tied 47th on one over and may need a round in the mid 60s to progress to November's Second Stage in Spain.

English players dominate the top of the leaderboard with Simon Griffiths leading by one from Alex Belt on 11 under with Martin Woodbridge a shot further back in third.

• First Qualifying Stage Section B Collingtree Park, Northampton
• First Qualifying Stage Section B Ebreichsdorf, Austria

The top 22 and ties will progress at Ebreichsdorf in Austria where Korea's Soonsang Hong leads on 15 under par and the qualifying mark is seven under with a round to go.