McElroy and Ryan dig deep at Q-School

September 20, 2018 Brian Keogh

Dermot McElroy (Ballymena) during the Great National Hotels Irish Masters 2017 at Ballykisteen Golf & Country Club. Photo: Golffile / Thos Caffrey.

Team Ireland's Dermot McElroy dropped three late shots but remained on track to progress from the First Stage of the European Tour Qualifying School at Stoke By Nayland.

The Ballymena man (25) bogeyed his last three holes in difficult conditions but still posted a three-over 74 to share ninth place at a venue where around 18 players will qualify for November's Second Stage in Spain.

New Ross amateur Michael Ryan (21) was also affected by strong winds at the Colchester venue but limited the damage to a 75 to share 23rd spot on three-over, just two strokes outside the top 25 per cent of the field who will progress.

Knock's Colin Fairweather (27) is five strokes further back on eight-over after a 74 with Cork amateur Kieran Lynch's chances suffering a blow as a 79 left him 12-over.

England's Jamie Abbott followed his opening 66 with a 68 to head the 75-strong field by two strokes on eight under par from Norwegian amateur Kristoffer Reitan, who shot 67 yesterday.

At Schloss Ebreichsdorf in Austria, Peter Dallat is 81st on three-over after he added a 74 to his opening 73 with Mount Juliet's Stephen Grant still eight over after a level par 72.

With 114 players still in action there, the top 25 per cent of the field is already four-under par or better with Denmark's Victor Gebhard Osterby (69 64) two strokes clear of Italian duo Federico Elli (70 65) and Stefano Pitoni (68 67).