Kearney and Thornton slip down leaderboard

NIALL KEARNEY and Simon Thornton both broke 70 but still slipped further down the leaderboard on a day of red-hot scoring in the third round of the European Tour Qualifying School final stage at PGA de Catalunya.

Warm temperatures and calm conditions produced a rash of red numbers, especially on the easier Tour Course. But while Kearney shot a 67 there and Thornton a two under par 68, they were overtaken in the cavalry charge of players hoping to finish among the top 30 and ties after six rounds.

Royal Dublin player Kearney was four under for the day with eight holes to play after an eagle at the 10th but needed birdies at the 16th and 18th to play them in level par having dropped shots at the 14th and 15th.