Dawson, Lester and Purcell chasing Hojgaard in The Hague
Rowan Lester (Hermitage). Picture by Pat Cashman
Irish trio Robin Dawson, Rowan Lester and Conor Purcell are six shots behind Denmark's Nicolai Hojgaard heading into the final round of the European Amateur Championship in the Netherland.
Hojgaard fired a four-under-par 68 on day three, his lowest score of the tournament, to lead by a shot on eight-under from England's Mitch Waite.
But while Dawson, Lester and Purcell all shot one-under 71s to share 15th place in an event where the winner will earn a place in The Open at Carnoustie, they are still very much in with a chance.
The cut for the top 60 and ties fell at three-over par with Mark Power coming up just one shot shy as he bounced back well from his opening 79 round rounds of 70 and 71 to finish on four-over.
Alex Gleeson (six-over), Jonny Yates (seven-over) and Tiarnan McLarnon (eight-over) also missed out.
European Amateur Championship, Royal Hague Golf & Country Club, Netherlands (Par 72)
1 HOJGAARD, Nicolai Gyttegård Golf Klub -8 71 69 68 208
T15 DAWSON, Robin Tramore/Mt Juliet -2 71 72 71 214
T15 LESTER, Rowan Hermitage Golf Club Lucan -2 70 73 71 214
T15 PURCELL, Conor Portmarnock -2 74 69 71 214
MC POWER, Mark Kilkenny +4 79 70 71 220
MC GLEESON, Alex Castle +6 70 76 76 222
MC YATES, Jonathan Naas Golf Club +7 73 77 73 223
MC MCLARNON, Tiarnan Masssereene Golf Club +8 76 75 73 224
