KEY POINTS:
New Zealand's Brad Heaven strengthened his position after the second round of a United States PGA Tour qualifying school first stage tournament in Georgia yesterday.
Heaven matched his first round with a three-under 69 at the Kinderlou Forest course to be outright second at the halfway point.
He needs to place among the top 27 finishers, plus ties, to advance to the second stage.
Josh Carmichael was the big New Zealand mover, shooting a flawless six-under 66 on day three at the Auburn Country Club in Alabama.
It saw him surge to 24th place, a position that will see him reach the second stage if he can hold it through the final round today.
Doug Holloway continued on his steady way at the Trevburn Country Club in North Carolina, adding a two-under 70 to his first day 72 to be tied for 21st after two rounds.
Michael Hendry, playing at the Stonebridge Ranch Country Club in Texas, scored six birdies and three bogeys in his third round of 69 to be tied for 30th - just outside the qualifying niche.
Last week, Tauranga golfer Bradley Iles finished 25th equal in his first stage event at North Virginia to reach stage two from November 14 to 17. The final stage from November 28 to December 3 eventually determines the 25 players (and ties) who receive their tour cards for the following year.
Any golfer who advances to the final stage receives some status on the second-tier Nationwide Tour.
- NZPA
