Conor Stapleton will be hoping the gale force winds will blow him over the line in the final round of the R&A Student Tour Series event in Portugal as he looks for his first collegiate victory at Palmares Golf Club.
The Maynooth University student is just one shot off the pace in solo second on seven-over after he recovered from an opening 79 with a superb 72 which was the low round of the day.
Despite opening with a double bogey six, the 19-year-old roared to the turn in 34 courtesy of birdies on the 3rd, 6th, 7th and 9th before making it four birdies in five holes on the 10th.
As the wind got up on the back nine he carded three successive bogeys from the 12th but grabbed a very important birdie on 15 before a bogey and two pars completed a very hard working effort.
University of Stirling student Will Coxon leads on six-over after a second round of 73.
In the women’s event, UCD’s Maebh McLoughlin is in a share of 2nd place on 16-over, just three shots behind Thea Fridh of Halmstad University after a round of 75.
Reigning Irish Golf Writers’ Amateur of the Year Anna Dawson shares 6th place on 20-over but at seven shots behind in these challenging conditions she isn’t out of contention just yet.
Scoring HERE