Unlikely lads Cormac Sharvin and Robin Dawson are dreaming big as the last of the home hopefuls at the Irish Open today.
In digs together in Lisdoonvarna after gaining Team Ireland invites this week, the young duo surged up the third round leaderboard yesterday as Padraig Harrington, Shane Lowry and Seamus Power crashed out of contention.
Sharvin kept his nerve to shot a 66 in front of a sell-out crowd in Lahinch to leave himself four shots behind overnight leader Robert Rock - who fired an Irish Open record 60 in Lahinch to grab the lead on 13-under.
Rock is being hotly pursued by Rafa Cabrera Bello and Eddie Pepperell, while former winner John Rahm is lurking after signing for a 64 but is five behind.
Sharvin, the 26-year-old from Ardglass, made five birdies and one bogey and can still qualify for The Open in Portrush with a top-10 finish today.
If he manages that - he's currently tied for seventh - then he must be within the top three players who haven't qualified already for the last major of the year.
Rock and Bernd Weisberger are in position for the first two, and Sharvin has third place as things stand - but there are plenty of dangers for him, Dawson included.
"I think it’s going to cross my mind now and again," admitted Sharvin. "But I’ve just been trying my best not to let anything like that affect the way I go about my business.
"Anything can happen. I’m going to just try to keep doing what I’ve been doing. "If that comes with the trophy, then great. If it doesn’t, we’ll just have to deal with it."
The composed county Down man shrugged off plaudits for producing another low round under a growing spotlight glare.
He shrugged: "I’m a professional golfer, it’s my job. I’m out here to try to shoot scores. If I couldn’t back a decent round with another decent round I’m probably doing the wrong thing.
"It’s super-exciting, of course. I’m just delighted to be here in the first place. Being in a good position going into Sunday is a bonus."
Earlier, Dawson fired in six birdies in a bogey-free round of 64 in the worst of the conditions and is six shots back from the lead.
Dawson earned the last invite to the tournament on Monday morning after Gavin Moynihan gained automatic qualification.
The 23-year-old immediately cancelled his flight plans to Rome ahead of a Challenge Tour event in Slovakia to head for Lahinch.
"The flight cost me a few quid but I didn’t care about that coming here," said the Waterford man.
There's also the small matter of a €1.1m winner's cheque to shoot for this afternoon.
"It's going to be in the back of my mind but if I play well that all takes care of itself," Dawson reasoned.
Sharvin added that golf would be off the agenda over dinner with Dawson last night.
"I actually haven’t seen him this week, he has been on opposite sides of the draw," he smiled.
"I don’t know if that is a good thing or a bad thing, but no, I've been travelling a lot with Robin this year, he’s a bubbly character and always gives you a laugh".
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