Rod Pampling has rocketed into contention at the second-last PGA Tour Champions tournament as fellow Australians scrap to be among the 36 players who contest the season finale.
Queenslander Pampling made nine birdies in a second-round eight-under 64 to be tied third, two shots behind joint leaders Padraig Harrington and Steven Alker going into the final round of the Simmons Bank Championship in Arkansas.
As well as being in the hunt for a third title, the hot form lifted Pampling from the danger zone at No.33 in the season's points standings to a projected No.21, with only the top 36 on Sunday advancing to next month's Charles Schwab Cup Championship in Phoenix.
Cameron Percy boosted his hopes as he fired a 66 to be tied ninth, three shots from the lead, improving to projected No.37 in the standings.
A shot further back, the season's leading Aussie, Richard Green, had a 67 though he was projected to slip from No.4 to No.5.
Countrymen Stuart Appleby and David Bransdon will want strong final rounds to ensure their spots at the finale. Tied for 36th in the tournament, the pair were just inside the points cutoff at projected No.34 and No.35 respectively.
Mark Hensby (T27th, projected No.30) and Greg Chalmers (T41st, projected No.29) were better off while Steve Allan (T18th, projected No.40) remains on the outer.
Michael Wright did well with a 66 to be tied 18th but is well back in the points reckoning at projected No.51.
