David Higgins of Waterville and Limerick’s Cian McNamara produced sub-par last rounds in Spain on Monday to take a closer step to securing their European Tour cards for next year, with both playing at the Las Colinas course.
Higgins fired a 68 and McNamara a 69 for total scores of 280 – four under par – and they finished in joint 16th spot to make it through to the final stage starting on Saturday.
However at the same course Royal Dublin’s former amateur international Niall Kearney, Aaron O’Callaghan and Brendan McCarroll all failed to make progress.
Northern Ireland’s US based Chris Devlin pulled was at El Valle and carded a four-under par 67 for a 281 aggregate for a share of 14th place, after a third-round 75 looked like it might cost him. In the end he took one of the 20 places on offer from that venue.
Mark Staunton of Castleknock missed out after a disappointing closing 73 but he may make the final if there are withdrawals.
Former Shamrock Rovers Stephen Grant failed to build on some good work this week and joined the Asian Tour based Niall Turner on the wrong side of the cut.
Colm Moriarty’s failure at La Manga was another disappointment for a player that has enjoyed moments of genius in recent years. But he could do no better than 290 and joint 38th place.
Neil O’Briain also lost out with a final round 76.
Michael McGeady also missed out for another year.
The final stage starts on Saturday at PGA Catalunya in Girona with six rounds offering up only 30 European Tour cards.
But somewhere near Newcastle, in County Down, 2009 Q School qualifier Simon Thornton is no doubt enjoying some babysitting, thanking his lucky stars that his final tournament finish on the Challenge Tour last month spared him a dreaded return to Catalunya this December. A venue he has been for the past two years battling for his playing rights, with last year proving fruitless.
Indeed, on the European Tour both Damien McGrane and Gareth Maybin will no doubt be feeling the same relief.
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