Denmark’s Benjamin Poke has been watching snooker on telly to take his mind off the pressure of trying to earn a card at the European Tour Qualifying School, at Lumine, in Spain. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

DENMARK’S Benjamin Poke extended his lead to two shots on day three of European Tour Qualifying School as the six-round marathon tournament reached the halfway stage.

The Dane, who completed a strong rookie season on the European Challenge Tour, carded four birdies and only one bogey to sign for a three-under par 69 on Lumine Golf Club’s Hills Course.

Poke said: “It was nice to finish with a flurry of birdies at the end. I was hitting greens from the start but leaving myself some long putts.

“By the time I got to the back nine I was striking them better and hitting my approach shots a bit closer – and I managed to take advantage of that over the closing holes.

“I haven’t really looked at the scoreboards this week or checked online after the round to see how I’m doing and I’ve been watching snooker over the last few days in the evening to take my mind off things.

“It’s a new day tomorrow so I’m just going to try and approach things the same way – enjoy being out here playing,” said Poke, who finished 29th on the Road to Mallorca.

“I’m looking forward to going out there and playing the next few days. I’m trying not to think about the top 25 at the moment as I can’t control what other players are doing.

“I can only try and control how I play and we’ll see where it all ends up at the end of the week,” Poke added.

The 27-year-old began the day sharing the lead, but finished with two late birdies to reach a three-round total of 12-under – two shots clear of his nearest competitor Lars van Meijel.

The Dutchman, who also narrowly missed out on graduating to the European Tour after finishing 19th on the Challenge Tour’s Road to Mallorca, converted six birdies and made an eagle-two on the Hills Course’s par four 12^th hole.

Van Meijel signed for a seven-under 65 to move 39 places up the leaderboard in the race to catch Poke.

“I had a really bad start yesterday and then played pretty decent,” said Lars van Meijel.

“Today, I played alright. My wedges were really good and I putted pretty well, but from the tee I was a bit shaky.

“I had a couple of good bounces as well. Overall my irons were pretty decent, especially my wedges and my putting was also really good.

“It’s the first time I’ve played in Final Stage and it’s absurd to think there are still three rounds to go. I’ll just keep playing one shot at a time – keep it relaxed and chilled, and then we’ll see.

“I feel confident. I’m just focussing on myself and trying to play the best golf I can. Then we’ll see where I end up.

“I made some small changes in the way I practice with a new coach and also, my childhood technical coach has made some small changes which have also clicked. I’m just trying to get better every day.”

Sharing third place on nine-under are India’s SSP Chawrasia and overnight joint-leader Toby Tree, from Sussex.

The field at the Final Stage of Qualifying School competes on both the Hills and Lakes courses.

With the leading half all playing the Hills Course on day three, they will now take to the Lakes Course for the all-important fourth round, where the field is reduced to the top 70 and ties.

The low round of the tournament was carded by two players on day three,

Staffordshire’s Will Enefer and Australian David Micheluzzi, who were paired together on the Lakes Course, both fired eight under 63s – and they both moved into a share of 62^nd place on two-under.

Enefer, who has had a consistent season on the EuroPro Tour withouth converting some good displays with a victory, said: “The first two days I wasn’t looking at the leaderboard.

“I was just looking at the playing zone. But after today it has completely changed everything, so I am really pleased.

“My playing partner David was also eight-under which helped as well,” added Enefer, who plays out of Enville GC.

“I was hitting quite a few inside his and he was holing in first so I was like: ‘I can’t let him keep going lower and I’m not.’

“So I followed him in and we kept bouncing off of each other.”

Micheluzzi was equally pleased with the outcome, saying: “I was really happy with today’s round.

“I holed zero putts the first few days but felt like they all dropped today to bring myself back within the cut line, and I’m just happy to be back in the mix after a disappointing first few days.

“I had nothing to lose after a disappointing first couple of rounds and so I just went out there and started firing at some pins and managed to hole some putts as well.”

That two-under total also stands as the current projected cut line.

Any player surviving the 72-hole cut will be guaranteed a European Challenge Tour card as they battle it out on the Lakes Course over the final two days.

A spot in the top 25 including ties will secure a potentially life-changing European Tour card.

•For live scoring in the fourth round at Lumine GC, click here.

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Richard Mansell, who won the Cobra Puma NXT LVL Championship at MacDonald Portal Hotel, Golf and Spa, and dedicated his win to friend and sometime caddy Charlie, who suffered a brain haemorrhage and has been left seriously ill in hospital

RICHARD Mansell has won the Cobra Puma NXT LVL Championship by three shots with a final round 69 at MacDonald Portal Hotel, Golf and Spa.

The Beau Desert golfer started the day one shot behind overnight leader Marco Penge, but the Staffordshire ace assumed the lead with a birdie at the opening hole as Penge, from Golf at Goodwood, three-putted for bogey.

Mansell only briefly slipped out of top spot on a tense final day with a double-bogey at the par-five seventh, but he reassumed control of the tournament with a spectacular pitch-in for eagle two holes later.

Mansell – who raised £4,500 last month for a friend who suffered a massive brain haemorrhage – maintained pole position throughout the back nine with birdies at 10, 12 and 17, signing for a closing 69 and a total of 18-under – and then dedicated the win to his friend.

“I did this for my friend Charlie, whose been fighting for his life in hospital,” said an emotional Mansell. “He’s been the 15^th club in my bag over the last few weeks. This feels really special.”

A special day indeed for Mansell, who’s previously recorded three runners-up finishes in his season-and-a-half on the PGA EuroPro Tour, and had his parents and friends on hand in Cheshire to witness his first victory.

Will Enefer, a Cobra Puma NXT LVL academy player from Shropshire, surged through the field with a 67 to claim second place on his own.

Clandeboye’s Jonathan Caldwell, from Ireland, and Wath’s Nicholas Poppleton tied for third on 14-under, while overnight leader Penge – a former England U16 Boys Champion – had to settle for a four-way tie for fifth after a two-over par final round.

Mansell, who shot a 58 three years ago while at Nova SouthEastern University in Florida and was signed up as an amabassador for Ted Baker Golf when he turned pro, leaped six spots to third in the Race to Desert Springs, while Enefer is up to 10^th.

Kent’s Alfie Plant, who finished tied 14^th at Portal, held on to top spot in the Order of Merit, while last week’s winner Andrew Wilson, who took the week off in preparation for the Rockliffe Hall pro’s Open Championship debut next week at Royal Portrush, remains in second.

Visit www.europrotour.com for more information and to see the final leaderboard.

•Mansell was joined by fellow PGA EuroPro player Joe Brooks in their fundraising efforts to help Charlie, who suffered the haemorrhage in the left side of his brain.

Mansell met Charlie nine years ago at the European Father and Sons Championship – and they’ve been close friends ever since.

Charlie caddied for Richard at the first stage of European Tour Qualifying School last year and successfully made it through. Brooks played with Charlie at junior level.

In little over three days, the event was organised and funds raised to help Charlie who had been unconsciousness in hospital.

The pair took on 100 holes at Beau Desert Golf Club last month taking alternate shots as a two-ball to complete it in just over 14-and-a-half-hours.

Mansell explained Charlie’s whole right side of the body had been left paralysed after the haemorrhage occurred in the part of the brain that controls understanding and speech.

Funds raised have been helping Charlie’s parents visit him in hospital.

Mansell explained: “I am hoping we can raise some money for Charlie and his family at this difficult time – whether that be for train fares, hotels, private rehabilitation, or whatever Charlie and his family need, and want to put the money towards going forward.

“They shouldn’t have to think about money at a time like this and it just proves how important life is – and none of us know what is around the corner.”

“He’s just one of them people who brings life to the room and is impossible not to love. He’s always smiling and I want to help get that smile back on his face as soon as possible.”

Mansell said the tragedy had given him perspective on life, adding: “I’ve been guilty in the past – like 99 per cent of the golfers I know – for moaning when we hit bad shots, getting down and acting like it’s the end of the world when we miss a five-footer for par.”

“In reality, it isn’t and this has been a massive reality check for me. What Charlie and his family are going through is real life and it shows how we need to not take any day or moment of time for granted – as we don’t know what’s around the corner.”

A spokesman said: “The PGA EuroPro Tour thoughts and prayers are with Charlie and his family and friends. The tour sends our best wishes in his recovery. ”

As of this week nearly £6,000 has been raised to help Charlie’s family.

•For more information on Charlie’s condition and updates can be found on the GoFundMe donation page.

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