Q-School shootout in Spain

By Brian Keogh

Irish duo Stephen Browne and Colm Moriarty face a final round shoot out to clinch their European Tour cards at San Roque.

Browne hit a one under par 71 on the Old Course to lie four shots outside the top 30 who get cards in tied 52nd on level par.

But Moriarty needs to go even lower when they take on the New Course in the sixth and final round after a level par 72 alongside Browne left him where he started the day in 60th place on one over.

Facing an uphill slog to get his card, Moriarty confessed: "I will probably need to shoot six or seven under par tomorrow so I will go out with an aggressive mindset. At least I know what I have to do: Go low.

"I didn't play well enough today to go really low. I suppose two or three under would have been a good result but at least I have a chance going into tomorrow."

Browne isn't hitting the panic button just yet and with wind and rain forecast today, he believes a solid sub-par round could be enough.

After a solid round that featured two birdies and just one bogey, Browne said: "It's not time for panicking yet. I know I will have to play well but you have to play well even if you are on the mark.

"I'll just be patient and play the game as it comes to me. The New Course suits my eye and I finished 21st in the Spanish Open there last year.

"I don't think it will take a 65. I am only three shots off tied 32nd, which is just one shot away from a card.

"I was outside the cards in '04 and I shot 70 to move up and get on the tour. So it could be a similar day tomorrow."

Austrian Martin Wiegele blasted ten birdies an eight under par 64 - four of them in his last four holes - to lead by four shots from South Africa's Thomas Aiken and Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal.

Wiegele said: "I shot 64 on the Challenge Tour this year but I think under the circumstances and considering the difficulty of the golf course, that 64 is an unbelievable score.

"I think I holed three putts from 35 feet and you don't expect to hole three of those in one day but you need to do that if you are going to shoot 64 around here."

England's Lee Slattery, who missed his card by just €77 this year, is fourth on nine under par after 70.

But with 51 players on one under par or better, it is going to be a cavalry charge to finish in the top 30 and ties.

Browne believes he is capable of doing it, adding: "I played super actually. There was a four or five under there for me today.

"I only hit one bad shot, that tee shot I pulled in the water on the 18th, which was my ninth.

"I made a good up and down there for the bogey. Hopefully I can play as well tomorrow and hole a few putts as well I can do the business."

Moriarty struggled with his swing early on a turned in one over par before picking up two birdies and a bogey coming home,.

He said: "I'll play a little more aggressively now. Not that I played defensively today.

"But they are not the type of courses you can overly attack either. There aren't really any birdie par fours.

"But I suppose you can be a little more aggressive and compact with your swing. I will certainly be giving it a go."