McGeady Survives School Test

Attrition is the word most commonly used about European Tour Qualifying School and the Second Stage has again taken its toll this week in Spain, ending the hopes for next season for seven Irish golfers. 

Only the one player earning a spot for the Final Stage next week at PGA Catalunya.

Niall Kearney the unexpected casualty after a one over par final round 72 saw the Dubliner drop 15 places and out of contention when he finished T21.

Having started the day in 4th place - and looking comfortable - it disappointingly proved insufficient for Kearney as those around him fired four and five under par rounds, leaving Kearney short sided at Lumine Golf and Beach Club.

Only the top 17 finishers at each venue and ties qualifying.

Kearney however earns Category 15 Membership of The European Tour for next season having finished within the top 25 places.

Michael McGeady enjoyed better news after clinching a share of fourteenth place after a final 70 - for a 3 under par overall at Campo Golf El Saler. The former Irish PGA Champion making the turn level and then picking up two shots on the home stretch to ensure his place inside the minimum mark.

Niall Turner signed for a 70 and moved up ten spots to a share 38th place at Las Colinas Golf and Country Club. But without making it any closer to full tour playing rights for 2015 on this occasion.

David Higgins carded a third round 70 for a share of 41st place and Mark Murphy dropped to 62nd after a final round 75. Both Waterville men left without full rights either.

Brendan McCarroll signed for 79 and share of 68th place.

Ruaidrhi McGee ended his campaign this year with a 68 and share of 51st place at Panoramica Golf and Sport Resort.

Gareth Shaw carded a 71 albeit with an improved position in 60th place.

Chris Paisley won his Second Stage event of The European Tour Qualifying School at Las Colinas Golf & Country Club with a five under par last day round of 66, which took the Englishman to 17 under in total. At the Spanish event, 18 players progressed.

Those 18 spaces where hotly contested and a four man playoff ensued for the remaining three spots when Englishman Matthew Cort, Dane Christian Gloet, Australian Geoffrey Drakeford and German Sebastian Heisele all finished in tied 16th position on seven under par.

Heisele and Gloet progressed in 16th and 17th place respectively, birdieing the second and third playoff holes, while it was Cort who missed out as Drakeford birdied the fourth playoff hole capturing the last qualifying spot in the process.

In the corresponding event at Panoramica Golf & Sport Resort, Englishman Matthew Southgate leapfrogged his compatriot Toby Tree with a five under par 65 to steal first place on 22 under par. However, again the real drama unfolded lower down the leaderboard on 13 under par as a sudden death six man playoff ensued for the remaining spaces.

After a tense battle, it was South African amateur Zander Lombard who took the 15th spot and Dane Jeff Winther the 16th. Gary Lockerbie then proceeded to hold his nerve to take the 17th place with a par three on the fifth playoff hole.

Elsewhere, Welshman Garry Houston stole the show at Campo de Golf El Saler, firing home in a seven under 65 to win the event.

But as with the other events, the real action came at the cut off for progression; Dane Daniel Løkke and Englishman Chris Lloyd hung on to take two of the last three qualifying places, where they were joined by Norwegian Espen Kofstad, who leapt up four positions to snatch qualification on two under par.

Meanwhile at the final event, Portuguese whiz Ricardo Gouveia completed his qualifying campaign with a rock steady level par 71 at Lumine Golf & Beach Club to stay at 18 under and advance on pole. A quartet of four players, consisting of France’s Guillaume Cambis, Englishmen Garrick Porteous and Nathan Kimsey and American Wes Homan, all shared the last progression spaces at nine under par.

Across the four venues, a total of 69 players qualified to the Final Stage where the top 25 players plus ties will earn their playing rights for The 2015 Race to Dubai.

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Kearney Eyes PGA Catalunya Return

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The end of day three at the second stage of European Tour Qualifying School has crystallised the dreams of some of the Irish hopefuls in Spain on Sunday and the chance for a spot in the final qualifying at PGA Catalunya next weekend.

Niall Kearney looks set to return after a blistering sixty-six pushed him up to a share of fourth place at Lumine Golf and Beach Club on Sunday, with five birdies on the card without loss. 

With the top 17 and ties qualifying Kearney looks set to make the trip to PGA Catalunya for third successive season.

Michael McGeady finished in share of sixteenth place after a third round 72 at Campo Golf El Saler to finish one under par overall. But more importantly inside the mark in 16th place with one round left to play on Monday.

McGeady got little payback from his day, trading one bogey and birdie in an otherwise faultless round. But a cluttered leader board around him leaves little room for manoeuvre on Monday and still under some pressure.

Niall Turner in contrast signed for a 72 and heads into Monday in 49th place at Las Colinas Golf and Country Club with little prospect of progressing.

David Higgins carded a third round 70 for a share of 40th place and ends his fifteenth trip to Q School at the second stage.

Mark Murphy remains 17 places adrift of fellow Waterville man after signing for a 72 and unable to fulfil his dream this year of playing on the European Tour.

Brendan McCarroll signed for another 70 and remains in share of 65th place.

Ruaidrhi McGee has been unable to match the form of last season and his third round 70 at Panoramica Golf and Sport Resort leaves him with no chance of further progress this season. 

A double bogey six on the sixth hole undoing the gains of five birdies on Sunday.

Gareth Shaw carded a 71 for 69th place.

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High Hopes for McGeady and Kearney

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On day two of European Tour Qualifying School second stage the eight Irish hopefuls continued their toil across four venues in Spain. All fighting for a spot in the final qualifying at PGA Catalunya.

Niall Turner fired a second round 67 at Las Colinas Golf and Country Club for a two under total that moved him into a share of 34th place - within three strokes of a projected spot. But nine strokes off the leader.

Campo de Golf El Saler saw Michael McGeady improve his chances with a slice of  7th place overnight after carding a second round 70 to remain one under par. Only a couple of strokes off the top of the lead board

Niall Kearney also made progress Lumine Golf and Beach Club with a second round 69 to move into 17th place on three under. Albeit eight behind the leaders.

David Higgins bounced back on Saturday with a 69 to move up to 36th place at the halfway stage but with work still left over the next two rounds.

Mark Murphy slipped to 44th place after a second round 70.

Brendan McCarroll signed for a round of 70 and remains anchored towards the bottom of the leader board.

Ruaidrhi McGee ended day two with a 69 but moved up only place from Friday on 3 under toal at Panoramica Golf and Sport Resort.

Gareth Shaw found form with a 66 on Saturday and moved up to 56th within five shots of a possible qualifying place.

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Fast Malmo Pace for Maybin

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Gareth Maybin opened his scoring at the Nordea Masters on Thursday with the loss of just one shot to card a round of 67 and head into Friday one stroke doff leader, Jens Dantorp.

Michale Hoey was one two behind after a round of 69 at the PGA Sweden National.

Shane Lowry opened with a 71 for a one-under-par round after a few hectic days qualifying for the US Open and finishing second to Rory McIlroy at the BMW GA  Championship.

Lowry made back to back birdies on the back nine to carve out a 34 at the halfway stage. A dropped shot at the second was recovered with a second birdie on a par-three at the fourth to finish one better than par..

He ended his first round with bogey on the ninth hole to lie five shots off the clubhouse lead of Swede Jens Dantorp and talented young English star Eddie Pepperell.

Kevin Phelan is also signet for a 71.

Dantorp began his round on the back nine and birdied 11 and 12 before picking up further shots on 16 and 18 to reach the turn in 32.

More birdies followed on the first and sixth to put the 25-year-old at the top of the leaderboard alongside Pepperell who birdied his final two holes to complete a 66 containing a single dropped shot.

The leading duo were one shot clear of a chasing pack of four players on five under, including two more Swedes in Sebastian Soderberg and Rikard Karlberg.

Henrik Stenson sat three shots behind following an opening 69 to leave him alongside Spanish veteran Miguel Angel Jimenez whose recent good form has catapulted him to the brink of Ryder Cup qualification at the age of 50.

Simon Thornton recovered from a double-bogey six on the third hole to card a one-under 71, 

Peter Lawrie ended Thursday with a 75,

Damien McGrane signed for a 77

David Higgins has withdrawn after a round which saw four bogeys and a double to finish on 78,

.

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McGee and Dunbar Best in Delayed Catalunya

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Strong winds hampered the second round of the Challenge de Catalunya on the European Challenge Tour, with players forced off the course early on Friday morning at Lumine Golf & Beach Club before play was eventually suspended for the day.

Little progress was possible in the second round, with officials calling a halt to play at 9.50am after the wind rendered the course unplayable. 

With the early groups not even making it to the turn and first round leader Joakim Mikkelsen scheduled to have been among the afternoon starters, the limited play meant there was little impact on the leaderboard, with only Englishman George Woolgar making strides following a birdie on the second of the three holes he completed.

That moved him up to five under par, three shots behind Norwegian Mikkelsen who set a blistering pace on Thursday with a course record first round of eight under par 63. 

Mikkelsen is a shot clear of Frenchman Adrien Saddier, who also did not get his second round under way, with American Connor Arendell a further shot back. 

With the wind showing no signs of abating, the decision was taken at 12.55pm to cancel play for the rest of the day. The second round will resume on Saturday morning at 9am, with the afternoon groups teeing off between 12.20pm and 2.20pm.

Ruaidhri McGee fired a first round 66 on Friday to share fourth with Alan Dunbar and six other players.

David Higgins was one of the few to start the second round - before play was suspended - and was one over par after six holes. The Waterville man opened with a 68 on Friday.

Niall Kearney signed for a 69 and will tee off his second round on Saturday,.

Gareth Shaw played three holes in level par on Friday - before returning to the clubhouse - and remains two over par after a first round 73. 

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Higgins Hangs Tough in HK

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David Higgins overcame a difficult start in Round 2 of the Hong Kong Open on Friday and fell all to a level par round, which was disappointing for the Waterville golfer after his opening 64. A couple of late birdies though helped Higgins back to two under. 

Kevin Phelan however missed the cut by a stroke after a two over par second round in Fanling.

With Peter Lawrie always outside the cut mark following an opening round of 77 on Thursday

Jbe Kruger leads aftre he came home in just 30 shots to grab the halfway lead at the Hong Kong Open.

As the world mourned the loss of Nelson Mandela, it was fitting that a South African should lead and Kruger’s 66 was enough to ensure he held a one shot advantage on seven under par.

There was little sign of what was to come when the 27 year old turned in a two over par 36, but six birdies in seven holes from the 11th propelled Kruger to the top of the leaderboard, with Stuart Manley his nearest challenger.

“Our country lost a real-life hero,” former Avantha Masters winner Kruger said of Mandela’s death on Thursday night.

“I played well, I probably swung it the best I’ve swung it in a long time. 

“I’m excited and I’m playing better for a change. It’s fun to play relaxed golf for a change and see what unfolds.”

Kruger’s scoring burst started with an eight foot putt at the 11th, before converting from 25 feet at the next and completing a hat-trick of gains with a simple putt at the par five 13th.

A 20 footer at the 14th kept the run going and, after a par at the 15th, an approach to five feet at the 16th and six feet at the next highlighted some wonderful iron play.

Manley was on course for a share of the lead until he hit his approach into the water at the tenth, his last, and bogeyed.

The Welshman hit the headlines recently by following a hole-in-one with an 11 on the next hole during the ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf at Royal Melbourne.

Manley, who thought he had won a car for his ace before being told it was only on offer during the final round, signed for a second consecutive 67 in Fanling.

“It’s really enjoyable,” said the Qualifying School graduate. “I started a bit scrappily but after the first few holes I played lovely.

“It’s 36 holes, there’s a lot of golf to go and a lot of good players around me so I’ll have to play well this weekend.”

Germany’s Alex Cejka, India’s Shiv Kapur and Australian Wade Ormsby are tied for third on five under, with defending champion Miguel Angel Jiménez just outside the top ten.

The Spaniard Jimenez can join Hsieh Yung-yo of Taiwan as a four-time winner of the event after previous wins in 2005, 2008 and 2012, the latter when he became the oldest winner in European Tour history aged 48 years and 318 days.

A first round of 70 left the veteran Spaniard six shots off the lead, but five birdies in his first six holes and another on the third had Jiménez right back in contention at Hong Kong Golf Club.

However, the 49 year old then dropped shots at the fifth, ninth and tenth - his final hole after starting at the 11th - to card a 67 and finish three under par.

"I played very well with birdies on the 12th, 13th, 14th, 16th and 17th and a birdie on number three, but then the magic stopped," Jimenez said.

"The greens are very fast, you have to take care. I three-putted the fifth, but I am happy, I don't feel like I putted badly but it happens.

"I thought about a low score after the first few holes, but you have to respect this golf course. It's not very long but you have to get the ball in place every single time and you have to be very careful with the greens because they are firm and fast."

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Higgins in Hong Kong Flyer

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David Higgins holds a one shot lead after a six under par first round 64 at the Hong Kong Open.

Higgins, who lost his European Tour card by less than €20,000 last year, fired an impressive nine birdies alongside three bogeys in Fanling.

Italy’s Challenge Tour winner Andrea Pavan is a shot further back after a five under par 65, with seven players sharing third on a congested leaderboard.

“It was great,” said 39 year old Higgins. “I just played solid tee to green holed some lovely putts and had a chip in. 

“If you’re going to have a score like that you have to do some good stuff. You’ve got to use your imagination; let it run out a little bit, maybe use a slope here and there, so it’s good for me. It’s a great test of golf.

“I played quite well on Tour at the end of last season, so I’ve come here in decent form and I’ve been working hard. 

“You get on a course and hole some putts and you’re going to have a good score and I did that, so it’s time to push on and have a decent week here.”

With Andrew Dodt and Prom Meesawat setting the clubhouse target at four under in the morning session, Higgins joined the leaders with a ten foot birdie putt at the third – his 11th.

The three-time Challenge Tour winner birdied the sixth and then knocked in a six footer at the next to reach six under, but a bogey at the ninth, where he chipped across the green into a bunker on the other side, threatened to spoil his round.

But he bounced back well with a birdie on the tenth, whereas Pavan was unable to atone for a dropped shot on the same hole – the Italian’s only bogey of the day.

Dodt and Meesawat were joined on four under by Singapore pair Lam Chih-bing and Mardan Mamat, India’s Sujian Singh and England’s Seve Benson and Adam Gee.

Defending champion Miguel Angel Jiménez, the highest ranked player in the field, opened with a level par 70.

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