BYRNE CLOSES IN ON ASIAN TOUR SCHOOL GRADUATION

James Byrne took a big step closer to winning playing rights on the 2013 Asian Tour by scoring in the low 60s for the second day in a row at the Asian Tour Final Qualifying School over the Springfield Royal Country Club course at Hua Hin, Thailand
The Northern Open champion from Banchory has shot rounds of 74, 65 and 64 for an 11-under-par tally of 203 and is in joint third place, four shots behind the leader, Canadian Richard Lee (65-68-66 for 199).
Byrne's 64 was the lowest of the third-round returns and matched the tournament low mark.
After Saturday's fourth and final round, the top 40 and ties in a field cut to 112 players at halfway will gain membership of the Asian Tour.  
Byrne recently gained pass marks at the South African Sunshine Tour.

THIRD-ROUND LEADERBOARD

Par 216 (3x72)

199 Richard Lee (Can) 65 68 66

202 Donlaphatchai Niyomchon (Thai) 64 66 72

203 James Byrne (Sco) 74 65 64, Kodai Ichihara (Jap) 67 69 67.

SELECTED TOTALS

204 Steve Lewt0on (Eng) 68 65 71 (T5)

206 Miles Tunnicliffe (Eng) 66 68 72 (T11)

208 Simon Griffiths (Eng) 70 72 66 (T24)

211 Gary G King (Eng) 68 70 73, Zane Scotland (Eng) 69 69 73 (T48).

212 Chris Rodgers (Eng) 71 70 71 (T61)

213 Grant Jackson (Eng) 69 70 74, Niall Kearney (Ire) 74 66 73 (T75)

217 Yasin Ali (Eng) 71 69 77 (T107).