Lawrie Losing Card Chase

Kevin Phelan had a fine start to the Hong Kong Open on Thursday morning - finishing among the group on four under, two off the lead, to keep his hopes of regaining a European Tour card next year alive.

Peter Lawrie and Kevin Phelan sit 122nd and 123rd respectively in the Race to Dubai and only a sixth-place finish or better is enough for either to secure full playing privileges for next season.

Lawrie had a very different first round with seven bogeys and a double bogey leaving him eight over and three shots off last place.

Six birdies on the third, seventh, 10th, 14th, 16th and 17th though left Phelan in a good place after day one.

Justin Rose lived up to his billing as pre-tournament favourite as Ryder Cup team-mate Ian Poulter ensured his last-minute dash to Hong Kong was not a wasted journey.

World number seven Rose, who is the top ranked player in the field, carded a flawless five-under-par 65 on Thursday to lie one shot off the lead shared by Italy’s Andrea Pavan and Taiwan’s Lu Wei-chih.

But Poulter was just two shots further back on three under as he looked to make the most of his dramatic late entry into the event, the 39-year-old only arriving in Hong Kong at 7pm on Wednesday.

Poulter dropped out of the world’s top 50 on Sunday and was therefore ineligible for his planned appearance in the upcoming WGC-HSBC Champions event in Shanghai, meaning he would be unable to play the 13 events required for European Tour membership.

Only members can qualify for Europe’s Ryder Cup team and that meant Poulter was forced into a frantic journey from Orlando to Hong Kong — via New York — but only after former US PGA champion Rich Beem generously agreed to give the Englishman his tournament invite.

Poulter followed birdies on the second and fifth with bogeys on the eighth and ninth to reach the turn in level par, but came home in 33 thanks to birdies on the 10th, 15th and 17th.

Pavan came into the week 191st in the Race to Dubai and needing to finish second or better to climb into the top 110 and keep hold of his playing privileges.

That would represent a career-best for the 26-year-old, who has never recorded a top-three finish, but four birdies in his last six holes gave him an opening 64 and a share of the lead.

“This year has been a struggle to say the least,” Pavan said. “I’m just trying to dig deep and really look forward to every week. Obviously this is the last event of the year for me and then I’m looking to go to Q-School. So it’s all about just giving myself chances.

“I’m just really trying to get my game in better shape. It’s good on the range but I still feel like I’m lacking a bit of confidence. I know I have what it takes. It’s been tough last year and this year, but it’s all a learning curve and I really hope I can make the next step soon.”

Lu, who came close to retirement three years ago after undergoing brain surgery, won three times on the Asian Tour before a non-malignant tumour was discovered in 2012.

“For the first six months after the surgery, I pretty much gave up all my confidence and trust because I had no power and I didn’t think I could play golf anymore,” the 36-year-old said after a round containing eight birdies and two bogeys.

“I had to rest for another six months and then finally I started playing a little bit. If I played 18 holes, I could barely walk after 14 or 15 holes. But finally I started coming back mentally and physically. I just keep telling myself that I want to be a real golfer again and compete on the Tour.”

Lu’s countryman CT Pan and India’s Jeev Milka Singh were alongside Rose on five under, with Graeme McDowell, Oliver Fisher and Phelan among the group on four under.

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Lawrie Facing Q School Trip

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Peter Lawrie missed the cut after shooting a second round 72 at the Portugal Masters and now set to lose his European Tour card and his automatic playing rights for next season.

Lawrie now needs a sponsor’s invitation to next week’s Hong Kong Open and needs to win enough money to move himself into the top 110 places in the Race to Dubai to avoid the dreaded trip to Q-School in Spain next month.

Mount Juliet’s Kevin Phelan will need a good weekend performance to avoid the same fate.

Phelan, who came through Q-School to earn his card in 2013, made the cut on the mark (one under par) but will need to go low over the weekend to earn enough prize money to move from 126th into the top 10. Even the weather looks to be against the 24-year-old however – heavy rain forecast over the weekend has put into doubt whether there will even be the full 72 holes played. If the tournament was shortened to, say, 54 holes, then the prize money would be reduced.

Paul Dunne and Padraig Harrington will join Phelan over the weekend with both players sitting 12 shots off the lead on two under par.

It is Dunne’s third and last sponsor’s invite of the season as he looks to add to the €80,000 he’s won already before heading to Spain next month to compete for the 25 tour cards on offer.

Darren Clarke and Michael Hoey both finished a long way off the cut-mark.

Damien McGrane still leads the Irish charge, despite a one over par 73 today. The Meath golfer sits on three under par, 11 shots behind tournament leader Andy Sullivan.

Severe storms with 50mph-plus winds are predicted for late Saturday morning and organisers have taken the rare decision to hold a shotgun start — groups teeing off on all 18 holes from 8am — in an attempt to get day three completed.

Sullivan, who began the day tied with Nicolas Colsaerts on seven under, is currently sitting pretty at the top of the leaderboard after a second successive 64 moved him to 14 under and three shots clear of Belgian Thomas Pieters, who carded a 66 and is also looking for his third win of the season.

However, there is plenty of scope for that to change if the forecast at Oceanico Victoria Golf Club turns out to be accurate.

“Due to the extremely poor weather forecast for the next two days it has been decided that the best chance of completing the third round is to schedule a shotgun start from 8am on Saturday,” said a statement from the European Tour.

“All parties have agreed to this in the best interests of the tournament.”

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Masters Finish Needed by Lawrie

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Peter Lawrie will go into this week’s Portugal Masters knowing that only strong finish - possibly in the top five - will see him avoid another trip to Tour School and secure his playing privileges on the European Tour for next season.

The Dubliner, who is playing on a sponsor’s invite at Vilamoura, currently sits 123rd on the Race to Dubai rankings with only the top 110 earning their cards for the coming year. With €187,296 in the bank, Lawrie is Just over €50,000 behind Chris Paisley in 110th position but would realistically need in the region of €250,000 to be certain of getting his card.

Lawrie, who is not in the field for the final event of the regular season in Hong Kong next week, has only made two cuts in his last six events. And he will need to finish eighth or better in Portugal if he is to move into the top 110.

Lawrie, one of six Irish players in the field with Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke, Paul Dunne, Michael Hoey and Damien McGrane also taking part, is far from the only player sweating on their cards this week.

Former rookie of the year Ricardo Santos will need to make the most of home advantage this week as he battles to regain his card.

Santos became the first Portuguese player to win on home soil when he triumphed in Madeira in 2012, going on to finish 90th in the Race to Dubai and improving to 65th the following year.

However, the 33-year-old could only finish 116th in 2014 to lose his card and comes into the Portugal Masters a lowly 180th.

Santos, who lives in Vilamoura and is attached to the tournament venue of Oceanico Victoria Golf Course, said: “I’m just worrying about keeping calm and staying focused on my game and we’ll see what happens.

“It could be a good week. I know I have the game to have a good week here. I know the course quite well so who knows? After many years, it’s more comfortable for me to play here in Victoria in the Portugal Masters, with all the Portuguese crowd and family and friends as well. So I think it’s going to be a good week.”

Compatriot Ricardo Gouveia has no such worries after sealing his European Tour card for 2016 thanks to his impressive performances on the Challenge Tour.

The 24 year old is second in the Race to Oman after four top threes in five Challenge Tour events and feels he is ready to make the step up.

“I’m not going to change anything and I’m not going to expect too much of me,” he said. “Just going to play, enjoy, and hopefully I can get some good scores out of this week.

“I’m really looking forward to starting the (2016) season off, and just to play at the highest level of golf in Europe, which was my goal for this year to secure that card for next year. It was awesome that I could secure it in the middle of the season with some good results.”

Last year’s event was reduced to 36 holes due to rain, with France’s Alexander Levywinning on 18 under par after rounds of 63 and 61.

“It was a funny week,” Levy said. “I played only four shots at the weekend and I managed to win the tournament like that. I played some of the best golf of my life. It was a very good week for me. I don’t think this week I’m going to make 18 birdies in 36 holes, because I heard there is a little bit more rough than last year.”

Two-time major winner Martin Kaymer is the favourite as he looks to make up for losing out in a play-off in the Italian Open last month, although his preparation has been less than ideal.

“A friend of mine got married in Los Angeles, so I flew there on Friday, arrived Friday afternoon, stayed Saturday for the wedding and flew out again Sunday and arrived here Monday,” the former world number one said.

“It was a tough one. It’s been a long and tiring week but I slept fairly well last night and we have one more night to go until I have to tee it up tomorrow. And it’s a golf course that I enjoy to play, so with some patience I think I can do well.”

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Galgorm 66 for Gros

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Sebastien Gros credited the friendly atmosphere in his group for inspiring him and his two playing partners, Haydn Porteous and Simon Thornton, to a combined total of 16 under on the opening morning of the Northern Ireland Open in Association with Sphere Global and Ulster Bank.

The Frenchman, currently second in the Road to Oman Rankings, shot a five under par round of 66, the same as Irishman Thornton, while South African Porteous was one shot better still and tied for the lead, making the three-ball an aggregate 16 under through round one at Galgorm Castle.

The 25 year old from Lyon has been in sensational form this season, notching a win at his home Najeti Open Presented by Neuflize OBC as well as three other top five finishes, and was happy to take advantage of benign conditions in the early stages of the first round to put himself in contention for another strong finish.

“It does make it easier when your playing partners are also playing well,” he said. “There was a really nice spirit in our game, all three of us were very friendly, and I think it’s more the fact that the two others are so friendly that helps you play well.

“Low scoring is always good but it didn’t really feel like we were going low, it was more the attitude of all three of us that was good and probably helped us all feel more comfortable and play as well as we did.

Conditions were perfect today, compared to yesterday especially. I’m very happy with the weather this morning, now I hope it doesn’t stay like that for the rest of the day!

“I’m delighted with the start I’ve made because this course is not easy so it’s always good to get an under par score.

“You have to drive the ball pretty well around here, and the greens are not very well defended, so if you put yourself in good positions off the tee you won’t have too many long shots in.

“There are a few key holes to get through but the wind was kind this morning, but the key is just to hit the fairways and then scoring can come slightly easier.

“I’m very happy with my season so far. I’ve had a few mistakes in my attitude in the last few weeks, where I’ve had good first rounds but not good finishes because I’ve started going a bit crazy in trying to get under par rounds when I’ve made a fast start.

“Hopefully I won’t make the same mistake this week, just try to focus on the easiest things to do.

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Harrington Bogeys US Open

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Padraig Harrington will miss the US Open for the second successive year after a bogey on the 36th hole saw him fall out of a play-off in qualifying at Walton Heath.

A run of four birdies from the 13th to the 16th in the afternoon on the Old Course had put the three-time major winner five under and in position to enter a six-man play-off for the final four spots available.

But he recorded a bogey five to miss out as South Africans Garth Mulroy, Thomas Aiken, Tjaart van der Walt and Australian Marcus Fraser qualified from the extra holes with Welshman Oliver Farr missing out.

"It was disappointing to bogey the last," Harrington said. "I nearly walked off after four holes this morning so I was surprised to have a chance at all.

"It was nice to get a run going on the back nine. It's one too many, so it is disappointing, especially after making a few birdies and getting inside the mark."

Two-time European Tour winner Alexander Levy will make his US Open debut at Chambers Bay next month after finishing top of the leaderboard at 11 under following a 66 on the Old Course and a 67 in the afternoon.

"I'm really happy. I played really good golf for the two 18 holes," he said. "I was positive and had a good attitude.

"It's nice to play the US Open. I was a little upset to slip out of the top 60 before Wentworth so it's great to now get in.

"It will be my first time in the US Open. I missed the Masters, so it will be great to play in another major."

Englishmen John Parry and Jason Palmer also qualified with the latter likely to get attention in the United States due to his unusual one-handed chipping style.

"The chipping is incredibly unique but it has saved my career, because there is no way I'd be competing as a professional if I didn't find the one-handed method," he said.

"At the end of last year I went from 50th on the Challenge Tour to having a win, a second place, and being on The European Tour and now this. I'm having an incredible time. I love the game of golf and at the moment it is being good to me.

"I doubt there have been many one handed chippers at the US Open before. The rough might be a bit too deep to play one-handed, so I'll have to assess it when I get there, but it is a problem I'm looking forward to have."

India's Shiv Kapur, Swede Alex Noren, Denmark's Lucas Bjerregaard and German Marcel Siem were the other qualifiers with Shane Lowry, Matteo Manassero and Nicolas Colsaerts among those to miss out.

Meanwhile, Wen-Chong Liang, Masahiro Kawamura, Hiroyuki Fujita, Kurt Barnes and Baek Seuk-hyun all progressed from the qualifying tournament in Japan.

Peter Lawrie and Gareth Maybin also failed in their efforts to make one of the the top eleven spots.

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Hoey Trails Espana in El Prat

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Michael Hoey carded a second round 68 at the Open de España in El Prat, Barcelona, to reaching the half-way stage two strokes behind Edouard Espana.

Hoey got his day off to a perfect start with a birdie three at the first hole before adding two more at the fifth and the seventh to go out in 33.

Another birdie at the 10th and it looked like the Northern Irishman might catch first round leader Trevor Fisher at the top of the leaderboard. However his good run was stunted by consecutive bogies at the 11th and 12th holes.

A strong finish gave way to birdies at the 15th and 16th to post 68 and leave him tied third on five under par, with Argentina’s Ricardo Gonzalez one shot better off in second spot.

France’s Espana overcame strong winds which sent scores soaring in the afternoon to card a second round of 69 and finish seven under par at El Prat.

Jimenez had been four under following birdies on the second and fifth with his ninth European Tour ace – equalling the record of Colin Montgomerie – on the eighth, but came home in 39 to card a 71 and finish one under.

The 51-year-old, who is known for his love of cigars and red wine, at least had the consolation of winning 288 bottles of beer for his hole-in-one, which came when his six-iron pitched around 15 feet short of the pin and rolled perfectly into the hole.

Espana, 25, who graduated from the Challenge Tour last season, told European Tour Radio: “Leading the open with my name everywhere is very cool.

“I played really good today, it was very windy so it was tough to control distance and the putting was tough too but I played very well and I am really happy. My family is from Spain so that’s why my name is Espana. My cousins are here this week so it’s really good.

“It’s completely different (on the European Tour), the level of tournaments are higher so I have to improve my game, my level to play good on tour and I try but it’s difficult so we will see at the end of the week if I keep going.

“It’s tough because there are a lot of good players, the courses are really good and difficult so you have to play well and focus on your game.”

The strong afternoon winds meant pre-tournament favourite Sergio Garcia avoided a first missed cut in 11 appearances in the event, the world number seven having added a second round of 72 to his opening 75.

“I didn’t feel I played that badly,” said Garcia, who was a shot outside the projected cut after finishing his round with two birdies in the last six holes and a par save from a greenside bunker on the last.

“It was a great week last week with everything that happened (losing a play-off in the Players Championship). It takes it out of you, but it’s no excuse. You just try your best and hope it’s good enough.”

After discovering he had survived with a shot to spare, the 35-year-old later wrote on Twitter: “2 tough days to start the #OpendeEspana but at least I’ll have the opportunity to play the weekend and have a chance! Will need great golf!”

Gonzalez had set the early clubhouse target on six under par thanks to a second consecutive 69, the 45-year-old bouncing back from a double bogey on the 17th with a birdie on the last.

“I hit a bad tee shot on 17 and then I tried to hit the green, which was a big mistake, so I paid for it,” Gonzalez said. “I made a good six and then I said to my caddie: ‘I need to make a good birdie on 18’. I played two great shots to the green and and that gives me a lot of confidence for tomorrow.”

South Africa’s Darren Fichardt is alongside Hoey on five under after a disappointing 73.

Fichardt carded a superb 66 in the tougher afternoon conditions on Thursday and moved into a two-shot lead with a hat-trick of birdies from the fifth, but dropped four shots in the space of six holes from the 10th to come home in 40.

Overnight leader and fellow South African Trevor Fisher fared even worse, carding a 78 to drop back to one under.

Peter Lawrie signed for a three-over 75 to finish on five over, and outside the mark.

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Hoey Sole Survivor in Shenzen

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Michael Hoey carded a round of 71 in the second round of the Shenzhen International at Genzon Golf Club on Friday.

Hoey went into the second day two over par after an opening round of 74 but birdies on the second and seventh followed by a very steady back nine saw him card a one under par round  and tied for 49th place.

Damien McGrane signed for four bogeys on the back nine, including the 14th, 15th and 16th, finishing in a share of 73rd spot and missed the cut.

Peter Lawrie carded rounds of 74 and a 75 and was also on the wrongside of the cutline.

Kevin Phelan finished a shot further back on six over par after carding a 76 and so will see no weekend action.

It was Kiradech Aphibarnrat who exploited fine conditions to storm into the lead.

The Thai started day three on eight under par, a shot behind leader Peter Uihlein, but birdied six of his first nine holes to sit 12 under half way through his round, two shots ahead of the American and Pablo Larrazabal, who was seven under for the day going into the closing holes.

Aphibarnrat, having coped well with Friday’s gusts, followed a series of sweet putts with a sensational approach to the sixth for another gain.

Spaniard Larrazabal was on course for a 65, a score already made by China’s Li Hao-tong, who is among a group of seven under, one behind Emiliano Grillo of Argentina.

Li, aged 19, played alongside two-time Masters Champion Bubba Watson for the first time and said: “He's pretty nice guy, so I very much enjoyed playing with him.

“I hit a lot of greens and made a lot of birdies. I was pretty lucky also.”

Watson, who started the day on level par but went round in two over, praised Li, saying: “He's hitting the ball really well. He's making a lot of putts. The key around a golf course is a lot of putts and he made a lot of putts today.”

Richie Ramsay had looked like beating Li to a score of seven under but the Scot dropped his only shot of the day with a bogey at 18, a par four, for a 66 that left him five under overall. 

Ramsay’s exceptional round matched the best of the week from Huang Wen-yi, whose equally impressive effort earned him the lead at the end of day one, but Li went one better than both.

Ramsay said: “I played lovely all day. I didn't really sort of hole that many putts. I just hit it close quite a few times. I’m a little disappointed to bogey the last but it's not an easy hole, and I just pushed my tee shot and I had to lay up. I hit a lovely putt that hit the edge.”

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Hoey leads Irish in Morocco

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Michael Hoey lies five shots off the lead after the first round of Trophee Hassan II in Morocco.

Kevin Phelan joins Hoey on two under.

The Belfast player, who won the tournament in 2012, carded four birdies and two bogeys to record a two under-par 70 and lie in a share of 22nd spot.

Gareth Maybin has work to do to make the cut as he is tied 78th on two over.

Peter Lawrie and Damien McGrane are struggling on four over after Thursday;s opening round.

France’s Adrian Saddier shone on only his second European Tour start of the season to take a one shot lead after the opening round of the Trophee Hassan II.

Saddier lost his full playing privileges after finishing 127th on The Race to Dubai last year and missed the cut on his only previous appearance in 2015 at the Joburg Open.

But after chipping in for eagle on Golf du Palais Royal’s first hole, the 22 year old added five birdies in a flawless seven under par 65.

That was one clear of England’s Daniel Gaunt, who had a hat-trick of birdies from the 15th before bogeying the last in a 66.

South African George Coetzee, one of a number of players in the field needing a big week to qualify for next month’s Masters Tournament, Scotland’s David Drysdale and England’s Chris Wood all lie two off the pace on five under.

“I’m very happy - I was very grateful to get an invite to play here,” said Saddier, who handed his invite back when his status snuck him into the field on Monday.

“This place is just unbelievable. I played very solid today - I had a chip in for eagle on the first then another chip in on six, so it was a great start and I kept it going.

“I just have a little category on The European Tour so I will be focused on The Challenge Tour this year. 

“I played last week in Madeira and although the tournament was cancelled I was playing well in the strong wind so I’m in good shape for this week.

“It’s almost my best round; I shot 64 in Qatar last year, which was eight under, so this is one of my best rounds. 

“If I could get a win it would change my schedule as at the moment I’m playing on the Challenge Tour - I just need to focus on each shot now and see what happens.”

Coetzee and Marcel Siem kept their hopes of qualifying for the Masters Tournament very much alive.

Both men have the daunting task of knowing only a victory in Morocco would be enough to book a trip to Augusta National for the first Major Championship of the year.South Africa's Coetzee carded a 67, one shot ahead of Siem.

Siem led from start to finish here in 2013 and looked to have done enough to climb into the Official World Golf Ranking's top 50 and secure his Masters debut.

However, after the results of the Houston Open were taken into consideration a few hours later, the 34 year old discovered he was ranked 51st and had missed out by just 0.03 points.

"It's a big week for me and four under is a good start," Siem said.

"I'm really excited about playing the Masters, I've never played it. I finished it off two years ago and still did not get in. It was a little horrible.

"I'm going to keep doing what I did today, try hard not to make any stupid mistakes. I have got the experience and I know the golf course. I will make enough birdies I reckon....just (need to) avoid the mistakes."

Siem and Coetzee were not the only members of the field with Georgia on their minds, with Alexander Levy, Andy Sullivan, Tommy Fleetwood and Ross Fisher all having chances to move into the top 50 before Monday's deadline.

World number 54 Levy needs to finish in a two-way tie for second or better, while Sullivan has to match his runners-up finish from last year or claim his third European Tour title of the season to move up from 61st.

Fleetwood and Fisher both need to win, but the latter got off to a terrible start with two double bogeys in his first three holes and carded a 77 which was matched by defending champion Alejandro Cañizares.

Fleetwood completed a two under 70, Levy went round in level par and Sullivan was two over for the day.

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