Caldwell leads Irish as Dunne shows progress in Mallorca

Jeff Winther. Picture: Getty Images

Jonathan Caldwell made six birdies in a four-under 66 to lie just four shots behind Dane Jeff Winther in the Mallorca Golf Open.

The Clandeboye man (37) was tied 14th as Winther threatened to shoot 59 after racing to nine-under with three to play but bogeyed the driveable 17th at Golf Santa Ponsa.

Winther's eight-under 62 gave him a one-stroke lead over Sweden's Niklas Lemke and South Africa's Bryce Easton with Paul Dunne tied 27th after a three-under 67.

Dunne has fallen from 310th to 1761st in the world over the past two years but appears to be getting closer to regaining some form.

Niall Kearney and Cormac Sharvin were two strokes outside the projected cut mark after 71s with Gavin Moynihan 118th after a 77.

On the Challenge Tour, Michael Hoey is tied for 39th on three-under heading into the final round of the Challenge Costa Brava at Empordà Golf in Girona.

He's 12 strokes behind Portugal's Ricardo Gouveia, while Kinsale's John Murphy missed the one-over cut by a shot when the second round was completed earlier in the day and will not make the top 45 in the rankings who contest next month's Grand Final.

Murphy is ranked 69th in the Road to Mallorca standings but must remain inside the top 70 to have a strong Challenge Tour category next season.