England's Brian Davis, winner of two titles on The European Tour International Schedule including the ANZ Championship earlier this year, lies in pole position in the US PGA Tour’s Qualifying Tournament after a four under par 68 in the fifth round earned him a six shot lead over the field at La Quinta, California.
He is joined in the upper reaches of the leaderboard by two more European Tour Members with fellow Englishman Greg Owen (72) and American Rob Rashell (74), one of only two Americans with full Membership on The European Tour, sharing second place with Canadian David Hearn and American John Elliott on 13 under par 347.
Davis, the son-in-law of former England goalkeeper Ray Clemence, played through a drizzle and temperatures in the upper 40s on the Nicklaus Tournament Course, moving to 19 under par 141.
"It was freezing cold," Davis said. "I didn't have my proper gear with me. I thought I was coming to the desert."
Now he has his sights set on capturing the title. “I've only got one goal tomorrow and that is to win," Davis said.
Owen, the 2003 Daily Telegraph British Masters Champion, also looks certain to gain a US PGA Tour card just seven months after undergoing back surgery after suffering a bulging disc.
Welsh Ryder Cup player Phillip Price slipped to eight under and joint 17th with a 73 but remains in the frame for a place in the top 30 and ties to earn a US PGA Tour card for 2005.
