Price facing uphill task
Phillip Price's dream of a US Tour place next season was hanging by a thread after a two under par 70 in the third round of the 72-hole qualifying competition in Florida.
That lifted the Welshman only four places from 60th to 56th - and just 21 and ties go through to the school final next month.
Bristol's John Morgan also returned a 70, but that served him much better.
The 24-year-old former England amateur international, who only turned professional in April, was the joint leader at the halfway stage and with a round to play he stood joint second in a group which also included Swede Carl Pettersson.
Morgan won on the European Challenge Tour in July and finished eighth on their Order of Merit to earn himself a place on the main circuit next season.
But the stablemate of Darren Clarke, Lee Westwood and Paul McGinley decided to go for his US Tour card as well and is an impressive 11 under par after 54 holes.
Mathias Gronberg dropped from 14th to 37th with a 73, but Essex's Paul Curry improved from 39th to 27th with his 68.
At the qualifying tournament in California, Rochdale-born Ed Fryatt lies second at halfway after a 69 and Italian Emanuele Canonica is 10th, while in Texas German Alex Cejka is ninth and Swede Christopher Hanell 21st, but Ireland's Keith Nolan only 62nd after adding a 74 to his opening 75.
