John Murphy and Mark Power will be putting their close friendship to one side on Sunday as they hunt a place in next month’s Amgen Irish Open.
Both players will be eyeing up a spot in Royal County Down by finishing as the leading Irishman and collecting the Christy O’Connor Jnr trophy at the Irish Challenge at the K Club.
Murphy holds a slender advantage on six-under after a rollercoaster round of 71 while Power is two shots further back after a 72.
Both players seem too far back to challenge overnight leader Brandon Robinson Thompson but they have plenty to play for otherwise.
“Myself and Mark are great friends and it would be fun if we were playing together there would be a good buzz around the place,” said Murphy who shares eleventh place. “Whoever wins I’m hoping we can be higher up the leaderboard than what we are right now so hopefully we will have a shootout tomorrow.”
Power added: “I got a taste of it last year, the atmosphere was electric and playing a home tournament against the best in the world it’s an unbelievable opportunity for the low Irishman this week.
“Obviously great friends with John Murphy and good to see him back playing well but I want to take him out tomorrow!”
Kinsale man Murphy cut a frustrated figure after his third round where he had to wait until the tenth hole for his first par of the day.
Murphy’s opening nine holes started off birdie, bogey, birdie, bogey before carding back to back birdies only for them to be cancelled out by a double bogey on the par-5 7th. He rallied again with back to back birdies to close out the front nine and dropped shots on 12 and 17 with a birdie on 14.
“A bit frustrated to be honest. I hit so many good shots out there that I eradicated them with some mistakes but it’s nice to be playing good golf and nice to be giving myself loads of opportunities and feeling comfortable out there. One more go tomorrow and try climb the leaderboard.
“It’s easy to look back and pinpoint what it was. One bad swing here and there to be in the wrong spot every time. My good golf was better today than it has been all week but just a few more mental errors creeped in there. The good golf is there.”
Kilkenny star Power would have liked some of the Murphy fireworks in his round as he mixed two bogeys with two birdies, including on the 18th where he narrowly missed a 30-footer for a closing eagle.
“It was a scrappy round. Hit some good shots and a few weak ones. It was tough with the wind out there, a lot of holes were crosswinds and pins tucked right on the edge of greens so you had to be brave to take them on.
“My whole plan was to be as consistent as possible, find the heart of greens and be patient. Made a lot of pars but was lacking the birdies.
“I’ve limited the card ruiners which is always good but I’m a bit disappointed, missed a tap in on 17 after missing the green right and it would have been nice to scrap through there.”
Meanwhile, K Club assistant professional Liam Grehan is back on one-over after a 75 with Jonathan Caldwell on plus six.