Golf: Kiwi quartet chase PGA Tour spot

Brad Iles of New Zealand plays a shot. Photo / Getty Images

Four New Zealand golfers are inside the bubble while another faces a fighting chance in tomorrow's final round of the second stage of PGA Tour qualifying in the USA today.

Mike Hendry, Brad Iles, Steven Alker and Tim Wilkinson are currently inside the cut mark to progress in their respective tournaments into the final stage for Q-school while Danny Lee is two shots outside the mark with one round remaining.

Hendry, with three wins under his belt on the Charles Tour, the Pacific and the OneAsia Tour this year, finds himself in a share of fourth place after 54 holes at Bear Creek Golf Club in California.

The 30-year-old North Harbour professional fired an impressive three-under 69 today to move to seven-under par with the 19th and last place currently on one-under. He started with a bogey but picked up birdies at the fifth, ninth, 14th and 15th holes.

At the same venue Lee shot his best round, a two-under 70 to move to one-over par after three rounds. Starting at the 10th hole, Lee turned at two-under and mixed two birdies with two bogeys coming home. He will likely need to go lower tomorrow to keep his PGA Tour dream alive.

It is not such good news for Phil Tataurangi who is will out of contention after shooting a five-over 77 today.

Brad Iles found his touch with a superb five-under 67 at TPC Craig Ranch in Texas to move to a tie for seventh place on eight-under, which is currently three shots clear of the cut line.

The Nationwide Tour player mixed three birdies with two dropped shots in his first nine holes but an eagle-par-birdie-birdie run midway through the back nine brought him back into contention.

Steven Alker is also in a strong position after a two-under 70 at the Bayonet Golf Club in Seaside, California to be in a tie for seventh place at 10-under par with the current final qualifying position at six-under. He started well with three birdies in the first five holes.

However it is the end of the road for Grant Waite who withdrew after his five-over par 75 left him well out of contention at Southern Plantation Hills in Florida. The former PGA Tour winner signalled before the qualifying tournament that he will re-evaluate his future if he did not progress.

- NZPA