Browne birdie blitz at San Roque

From Brian Keogh at San Roque

Stephen Browne produced a mid-round birdie blitz to stay on course for his tour card at San Roque.

The Dubliner, 33, racked up five birdies in the space on six holes to card a fourth round 70 and make the 72-hole cut on the limit in the European Tour Qualifying School Finals.

Glasson's Colm Moriarty crashed to a 75 but will play the last two rounds alongside pal Browne after they made it on one over par.

Both men are tied for 60th place, just three shots outside the top 30 and ties who get tour cards tomorrow night.

South African Thomas Aiken and Spain's Pablo Larrazabal lead by two shots on 10 under par but Ryder Cup aces Andrew Coltart and Joakim Haeggman missed the cut.

Relishing the pressure, Browne said: "The pressure is mounting but this is what you play golf for. You want to be under pressure because it means you are playing well.

"Hopefully I can get myself right in the mix and feel the squeeze. I hate playing when there is nothing on the line. I love when you have to perform."

Starting on the back nine at the New Course, Browne was one over after two bogeys and a birdie in his first eight holes.

But an eight iron to four feet at the 18th set up a run of four birdies in a row before he closed with a bogey at the ninth.

Moriarty slipped from tied 19th to 60th after dropping three shots in his last four holes.

A double bogey on the sixth at the Old Course followed by a bogey six at the ninth left him disappointed.

But he vowed to bounce back and go on the attack over the last two rounds.

He said: "It is disappointing to finish the way I did but at least I have got two rounds to repair the damage."

Damian Mooney made a move with three birdies in his first eight holes but doubled the 10th and bogeyed the 11th for a 72 to miss the cut by six shots.

Peter O'Keeffe and Michael McGeady finished near the back of the field after rounds of 75 and 77.