Irish in final round battle at Q-School
Tim Rice
Ireland's quartet of hopefuls are outside the qualifying places heading into the final round of their First Qualifying Stage Section C qualifiers in Portugal and France.
At Golf d'Hardelot in France, Limerick's Tim Rice is just a shot outside the top 24 and ties on two over after a rollercoaster 72 that featured five birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey seven.
French amateur Nicolas Maheut leads by four shots on 12 under par from German amateur Mauro Anderi and Spain's Marcos Pastor
At Ribagolfe in Portugal, England's Henry Smart leads by two shots on 11 under par from Canada's Drew Nesbitt with Ireland's David Carey the best of the Irish on one over par after a 74.
Carey is tied for 30th, three strokes outside the top 23 and ties who progress to the Second Stage with The Island's Gavin Moynihan tied 38th, a shot further back on two over after a 73.
Declan Loftus shot a level par 72 but he's got an even bigger mountain to climb as he's three over and five outside the mark in a share of 48th.
