JD GuineyJD Guiney. Listowel’s JD Guiney took a giant step towards next month’s Second Stage of the European Tour Qualifying School when he fired a five under 67 Frilford Heath to move comfortably inside the crucial top 24 ahead of today’s final round.

Muskerry’s Niall Turner had to return to the other section D venue, Golf d’Hardelot in France, to complete his third round this morning, completing a two over 73 to share eighth on four under, Guiney is up to joint 12th on four under in Oxfordshire.

A product of Ballybunion, Guiney joined the professional ranks in 2011 having played four years of college golf  - two for Scottsdale Junior College (“The Fighting Artichokes”) and another two for Rollins College in Orlando.

According to The Kerryman, a bursary from the Pat Mulcare Foundation helped ease the financial burden and Guiney tried his hand on the Hooters Tour in the Orlando area.

With the top 24 and ties to progress to the Second Stage, Guiney is a shot inside the current three under par cut off.

Headfort’s Brian Casey missed the 54-hole cut, which fell at four over par, by a stroke.

Having opened with a 76, the former Mullingar Scratch Trophy winner fought back with a 70 but two double bogeys and a bogey in his last seven holes yesterday condemned him to a 75 and an early exit on five over par alongside Mike Kelly (75).

Shane Franklin’s 73 left him well off the pace on 11 over with Ulsterman Thomas Conran finishing at the back of the 100-man field on 22 over after a 79. Frilford scores

Laurie Canter extended his advantage at Frilford Heath with a third round of 66 leaving him four clear of Wales’ Liam Bond on 15 under par.

In France, Turner had to return to Golf d’Hardelot this morning complete his third round after a suspension late in the day prevented the final group from finishing.

Tied for fourth overnight, Turner signed for 73 to share eighth on four under and looks certain now to finish inside the top 24 and ties after today’s final round and progress to the Second Stage.

South African Haydn Porteous leads by a shot on eight under but Limerick’s Tim Rice is two shots outside the top 24 and ties on one over par.

Rice added a one over 72 to a brace of 71s to share 31st place but Banbridge’s Richard Kilparick missed the six over par cut by a stroke after a 74.

Scores after round  3 from Frilford Heath:

201 L Canter (Eng) 65 70 66,

205 L Bond (Wal) 71 67 67,

206 J Senior (Eng) 68 68 70,

207 J Rutherford (Eng) 71 70 66, C Griffiths (Eng) 69 67 71,

208 J Abbott (Eng) 75 66 67,

209 J Banbury (Eng) 73 67 69,

210 J Watts (Eng) 71 72 67,

211 D Skinns  (Eng) 70 70 71, D Wood (Eng) 70 69 72, R Evans (am) (Eng) 70 71 70,

212 O Farr (Wal) 73 67 72, J Day (Eng) 72 71 69, B Stone (RSA) 72 69 71, J Dransfield  (Eng) 72 70 70, R Kellett (Sco) 71 70 71, J Guiney (Irl) 73 72 67, D Whitnell  (Eng) 72 68 72, J Jeong (Kor) 72 70 70, R Brown (Eng) 70 69 73, C Cossins (Eng) 71 70 71, N Kimsey (am) (Eng) 71 71 70,

213 J Wilkinson (Eng) 72 70 71, M Jager (Aus) 69 72 72, M Wallace (Eng) 70 73 70, S Einhaus (Ger) 66 74 73, K Crossland (Eng) 73 70 70, R Enoch  (Wal) 71 73 69, J Doherty  (Sco) 76 71 66, R Boyns (Eng) 72 71 70, H Casey (am) (Eng) 72 73 68

<Top 24 and ties, above, to advance to Second Stage>

214 G Hawkins (Eng) 73 68 73, A Rai (Eng) 67 72 75, J Colegate (Eng) 69 70 75,

215 S Davis (Eng) 71 76 68, T Bertoni (USA) 73 74 68, S Garcia (Esp) 77 70 68, L Cornford (Eng) 71 68 76,

216 G Cowan (Eng) 68 74 74, S Matton (Eng) 72 70 74, J Bryant (USA) 71 73 72, R Harrison (Eng) 73 73 70, J Sloan (Eng) 72 73 71,

217 J Scade (Eng) 74 71 72, M Mezei (Can) 75 73 69, J Campbell (Eng) 75 70 72, T Burden (Eng) 75 69 73, Z Ouyang (Chn) 74 70 73, A Kirakossian (USA) 74 71 72,

218 G Fairfax (Aus) 72 72 74, J Kaske (Fin) 71 74 73, J Clarke (Eng) 73 72 73, C Harrison (USA) 72 72 74, N McCarthy  (Eng) 71 75 72, R Laino (Eng) 70 75 73,

219 P Newman (Eng) 75 69 75, N Flynn (Eng) 72 73 74,

220 M McCormack (Eng) 73 74 73, D Salisbury (Eng) 75 73 72, C Ford (Eng) 75 72 73, C Lidyard (Eng) 75 69 76, T Wilde (Eng) 74 76 70, J Zhao (Chn) 72 72 76, L Joy (Eng) 71 75 74, E Wainwright (USA) 72 75 73, N Raymond (Eng) 73 73 74, B Briscoe (Wal) 69 71 80

CUT

221 O Tite (Eng) 72 76 73, P Shields (Sco) 72 74 75, D James (Eng) 75 76 70, D Jin (Chn) 75 73 73, M Kelly (Irl) 75 71 75, J Harrison (Eng) 77 75 69, R Fieldhouse (Wal) 73 75 73, B Casey (Irl) 76 70 75,

222 R Mestre (Esp) 78 74 70, L O’Neill (Eng) 77 74 71, N Roche (Fra) 77 73 72, M Smith (Eng) 74 74 74,

223 R McGhee (Eng) 74 77 72, W Wray (Eng) 76 71 76,

224 D Timms (Eng) 78 72 74, C Simpson (Eng) 73 74 77,

225 J Findlay (Sco) 80 72 73,

226 P Spraggs (Eng) 76 75 75,

227 G Gancedo Onieva (Esp) 81 71 75, J Winer (Eng) 77 76 74, B Storey (Eng) 75 76 76, S Franklin (Irl) 74 80 73,

229   Campbell (Eng) 77 75 77, A Mansell (Eng) 77 73 79,

232 J Mumford (Eng) 77 76 79, B Khor (Eng) 68 81 83, M Okon (Pol) 76 79 77,

233 B O’Dell (Eng) 80 75 78, G Guerin (Nzl) 73 77 83, D Rickwood (Eng) 77 81 75,

234 R Gurney  (Eng) 79 76 79, A Forster (Eng) 77 78 79,

238 T Conran (Nir) 81 78 79,

** G Payne (Eng) 72 77 WD,

** P Woodbury (USA) 76 DQ  0