Jonathan Yates fought back from a poor start to keep his hopes alive heading into the final round of the Mackenzie Tour PGA TOUR Canada Qualifying School in Florida.

The Naas professional (27) must finish inside the top 25 and ties to secure conditional status for this summer’s tour. But after bogeys at the second, fourth and sixth left him outside the pale on two-over par, he fought back on the homeward nine to card a 73 that leaves him tied 22nd on level par.

Scores

After following a birdie at the 10th with a bogey at the par-three 12th, the Alps Tour regular and former West of Ireland champion birdied the 13th and 16th to keep his card hopes alive.

Costa Rica’s Luis Gagne and amateur Zachary Taylor lead by a shot on 10-under from Cristian DiMarco.

The winner of the 72-hole event will be fully exempt for 2021 while those finishing from second to sixth are exempt through the reshuffle, which will occur approximately halfway through the season.

The players ranked seventh through 25th (plus ties) will be awarded conditional membership.