Ferrie, winner of the European Open earlier this season, is only £5,000 (€7,398) behind Dougherty on the money list but trailed the former Walker Cup star by five shots going into the third round in Cologne.

A front nine of 33 took Ferrie to seven under par for the tournament and reduced his deficit to just two shots, the 26-year-old carding birdies at the first, second and seventh.

And an identical back nine gave Ferrie a 10-under-par total of 206 at Gut Larchenhof, one behind early clubhouse leader Niclas Fasth of Sweden who carded a 65.

The fourth edition of the Seve Trophy – a biennial event between Britain and Ireland and Continental Europe – is being held at The Wynyard in County Durham from September 22-25, giving the Ashington-born Ferrie an added incentive to make the 10-man team.

“I only live about half an hour away so obviously it means a lot more to me than most,” he said.

“A lot of the big guys aren’t going to play and that gives me my chance so I can’t really knock them for it.

“But for me I know there are a lot of people who will come to watch if I do get in so it will definitely add to the crowd if I get to play.”

However, Dougherty remained in the driving seat and birdies at the third and sixth took him back ahead of Ferrie on 11 under, one shot off the lead held by England’s Paul Casey.

Casey began the day one shot off the lead but picked up shots at the third and fourth to move one clear of an eight-strong group including Fasth, Dougherty, tournament promoter – and four-time winner Bernhard Langer – and overnight leaders Anthony Wall and Jose Maria Olazabal.