Pat Errity signed for a round of 74 on day three of final European Senior Qualifying School in Portugal for a share of 11th place on 1 over par. he is one of two amateurs occupying the top 14 positions and joins Frenchman François Illouz who carded three double bogeys and five bogeys in his eventful round of 73.
Gordon Manson will take a two stroke advantage into the final round of European Senior Tour Qualifying School after a battling two under par 69 in tough conditions in Portugal.
Originally from Scotland Manson now plays under the Austrian flag, after moving there in 1984, and one of only four players under par for the third round at Pestana Golf Resort’s Vale da Pinta.
Only Manson and Chilean Angel Fernandez, who also signed for a 69, posted rounds in the 60's as morning rain and wind claimed a number of victims.
Manson boosted his chances of securing playing rights for the 2011 Senior Tour season with a fine eagle on the par four 11th, holing his nine iron approach shot from 122 yards. That came after birdies on the first and tenth holes, with bogeys on the third and eighth holes sandwiched in between.
A run of seven consecutive pars on the way in kept him on five under par, two strokes clear of American Tim Thelen who recovered after dropping four shots on the front nine to card a 71.
“The eagle on the 11th was something special,” said Manson. “I thought it was going to be close but it went straight down the can.
“I then played really well for the next seven holes. Conditions were tough today so two under was a good score. It was the first time the wind has really blown since we’ve been out here and it changed everything.
“Yesterday I was going in on the fourth hole with a pitching wedge and today I was taking a hybrid. You just had to think hard about every shot today.”
Former Challenge Tour winner Manson grew up in Scarborough, in the north east of England, and said that foundation had helped him in the wind, as he looks for a return to Tour life following an absence of nearly 20 years.
“I played on The European Tour in the 1980's and then again in the 1990's after winning on the Challenge Tour but I’ve been coaching in Austria for the last 24 years. I fancy giving it another go on Tour now though.
Thelen, who led the qualifiers from First Stage at Pestana’s Gramacho course, birdied the last hole to maintain his impressive challenge so far.
One shot further back is Australian Graham Banister, who chipped in from the edge of the green to card a round of 74 after also double bogeying the fourth hole.
Overnight leader Steve Van Vuuren, of South Africa, signed for a round of 76 to lie fourth shots off the pace on one under par in a share of fourth place with Swede Peter Dahlberg (73), Fernandez (69), and Spaniard Manuel Moreno (72).
With positions one to six gaining full playing rights for 2011, all four will be hoping for a stronger showing in the final round to join players such as Sam Torrance and Ian Woosnam on the Senior Tour next season. A minimum of eight further alternate cards will also be available.
Jimmy Heggarty is on 6 over par in a tie for 25th place after a round of 75.
Victor Garcia also signed for a 75 and is three shots further adrift on 8 over par in 42nd place.
