Richard O'Donovan and John McClean are poised to qualify for next week's final stage of the Sunshine Tour Qualifying School in South Africa.

Former East of Ireland champion O'Donovan bogeyed the 17th and double bogeyed the 18th in strong winds to card a one-over-par 71 in the third round of the Stage One qualifier at Killarney Country Club in Johannesburg.

But despite those late hiccups, he still moved up two places to joint 11th on four-over-par at a venue where the top 25 and ties progress to next week's Final Stage at Randpark Golf Club.

O'Donovan looks set to join Jeff Hopkins and Neil O'Briain, who are exempt into the Final Stage. And so does Northern Ireland's McClean, who shot a three-over 73 to share 19th on six-over par at a venue where South African amateur Brandon Cloete carded a 64 to share the lead with Martin Rohwer on seven-under-par.

While play was suspended at both Stage One venues during the day, the field did not finish at State Mines, where Danie Van Niekerk leads by three strokes on 13-under-par.

Killarney Country Club
State Mines