FP – Stuart Appleby’s last-ditch bid to retain a full US PGA Tour card has turned ugly while fellow Australian Alastair Presnell kept his slim hopes alive.

Appleby squandered his promising start to the Wyndham Championship as he produced eighth bogeys – including six on the front nine – in a third round of six-over 76 on Saturday to plummet to tied 67th.

Presnell shot a 67 to be tied 10th, five shots behind American joint leaders Patrick Reed (71) and John Huh (70), who were at 10-under 200.

Appleby, who last won in 2010, currently sits 123rd on the season-long points race and 137th on the money list.

The 40-year-old veteran of 18 seasons on the tour needs to be in the top 125 on the points race after Sunday to get into the first of the four season-ending playoff tournaments that start on Thursday.

Otherwise his money list spot is likely to afford the nine-times tour winner only him a partial tour membership for next season which starts in October.

Presnell (194th points race, 194th money list) is in an even tougher spot and probably needs a top two finish on Sunday in this final regular season event.

Of the other Australians, Nick O’Hern (178th points, 170th money) and Scott Gardiner (177th points, 179th money) climbed to tied 15th with rounds of 67 to also retain some hope.