Caldwell and Murphy shine; McBride, O’Rourke and Yates in position at Q-School

Rasmus Højgaard. Picture: Getty Images

Jonny Caldwell shot a two-under 69 to lead the Irish challenge in the Cazoo Open de France at Le Golf National.

The Clandeboye man is tied 21st, seven shots behind Dane Rasmus Hojgaard, who carded a nine-under 62 to lead by two from Sweden’s Alexander Bjork.

Niall Kearney bogeyed his final two holes for a 70 and a share of 37th as Cormac Sharvin shot 72 to lie a shot outside the cut line.

In the Swiss Challenge, Kinsale’s John Murphy is tied fifth, two shots behind South Africa’s Bryce Easton and France’s Jeong weon Ko after a four-under 68 at Golf Saint Apollinaire.

Gary Hurley and Gavin Moynihan are tied 16th after 70s as David Carey shot 73, Tom McKibbin 75, Ruaidhri McGee and Robin Dawson 76s and Conor Purcell a 79.

In Italy, Paul McBride is tied sixth on 12-under par heading into the final round of the First Stage DP World Tour Q-School qualifier at Bogogno Golf Resort in Italy.

McBride shot 69 to lie six shots off the lead with the top 21 and ties progressing.

Conor O’Rourke fired nine birdies in a seven-under 65 to share 14th on 10-under with Jonathan Yates 21st on eight-under after a 70.

Rowan Lester’s 71 leaves him four shots outside the mark on four-under but James Sugrue (71) missed the 54-hole cut by a shot on level par with Michael Young (76) one-over and Darren McHale (84) 23-over.