Farr Ahead of McGeady

PGA EuroPro Tour

Michael McGeady battled into second place midway through the front nine in the final round of the 888poker.com PGA EuroProTour Championship on Thursday to make the turn two under and in contention.

Having started out the day in the second last group, and in a share of second place, the chance then slipped as successive bogeys on thirteen and fourteen - with no more birdies on the run for home -  left the Irish PGA Champion level par for the day. 

McGeady finished in a share of seventh and a total of five strokes off the winner on -8.

Oliver Farr won the PGA EuroPro Tour Championship and the 2013 season Order of Merit, after finishing 13 under par for his 54 holes at Prince’s Golf Club.

Daniel Gavins was one behind in second place, which also confirmed his position as runner-up on the tour rankings. Paul Reed and James Watts finished the tournament tied for third on ten under par.

The top five on the Order of Merit are awarded Challenge Tour cards for 2014. 

George Woolgar, who was guaranteed a top-five finish before Tour Championship, came third with Dave Coupland and Paul McKechnie also progressing to Europe’s second-tier Tour.

Farr (Worcester Golf & Country Club) shot a final-round 67, five under, to beat overnight leader Gavins (De Vere Oulton Hall) by one and in doing so also claimed the Order of Merit title.

“The last two days I have really controlled the ball well and put some great scores in,” said Farr. “It was nice to do that under a lot of pressure. I wasn’t quite sure of my Challenge Tour card for next year but it is brilliant to get it.

“The Challenge Tour card only really occurred to me on the 18th. I was focusing on the last round. I came here this week to just play this tournament as it is and I did that. It only really came into my mind on the 18th tee, then I thought I could win the Order of Merit.

“Playing on the Challenge Tour is something to really, really look forward to. I have played some Challenge Tour events this year and I feel comfortable on there. There is a little step up but I will prepare myself and get some good practice in over the winter to get ready for next year.”

The Welshman led for much of the back nine after shooting five birdies on the first 11 holes. A birdie for Gavins on the last left Farr with a short but nervy putt for victory, which he calmly made to collect a winner’s cheque of £15,000 and a brand new Motocaddy S3 Pro.

Richard Wallis finished sixth on the 888poker.com PGA EuroPro Tour Order of Merit, missing out on the top five by just £69.17. However, if any of the top five earn a Challenge or European Tour card via the European Tour Qualifying School, he will receive their satellite tour graduate category.

Marcus Armitage collected the Rookie Of The Year trophy after finishing ninth on the Order of Merit.

Ruairdhri McGee finished one stroke adrift of McGeady after a final round 74.

Colm Moriarty signed for a successive third round 70 to end the week T25.

Tim Rice carded a final round 69 but found himself in 33rd place following a second 76 on Wednesday.

Paul Cutler, the 2011 Walker Cup player was 38th after rounds of 73-70-70.

McGee and Moriarty will get another chance at a European Tour card during Stage Two of Qualifying School next month in Spain.

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McGeady in EuroPro Contention

Michael McGeady dropped just one stroke on his way to a second round 67 of the 888poker.com PGA EuroProTour Championship in Kent on Wednesday, to hold a two way share of second place ahead of the final day.

A bogey on the par four 14th the difference between the lead and playing in the final group on Thursday, with just that one stroke separating him from the leader.

So Daniel Gavins will take that one-shot lead into the final round and will play with Oliver Farr - who he lost out to in a play-off at Montrose last month – after both shot second-round 65s at Prince’s Club.

Farr (Worcester Golf & Country Club) shared second with McGeady on eight under with Simon Lilly (Wellingborough, 67, 70) and Paul Grannell (Vale Royal Abbey, 65, 72) seven under, two behind leader Gavins on the par-72 course.

The 22-year-old, who is attached to De Vere Oulton Hall, is second on the Order of Merit and has already guaranteed himself a top five finish along with George Woolgar (Capitalservices). He won the HotelPlanner.com Championship at Dale Hill in August and finished second in the Eagle Orchid Scottish Masters at Montrose and in the Clipper Logistics Championship at Moor Allerton, losing in a sudden-death play-off in both events.

A victory for either Gavins or Farr tomorrow would see them crowned 2013 Order of Merit champion, provided Woolgar finishes outside the top two. The Chesterfield golfer is tied 36th on level par ahead of Thursday’s final 18.

“I hit the fairways and holed some nice putts,” said Gavins of his second round. “At the start of the day it was pretty calm but the wind picked up as my round went on.

“It would mean an awful lot to win this week but I am not really thinking about winning the Order of Merit. I already have Challenge Tour through the top five so anything else this week is a bonus.”

Joint second-placed Farr said: “I hit seven birdies and played some really good golf, it was probably one of the best rounds I have ever played and in some tricky conditions coming down the stretch.”

Woolgar leads the Tour rankings, with Gavins, Farr, Dave Coupland (-1, T31) and Paul McKechnie (-4, T14) completing the current top five. Only Woolgar and Gavins have already secured their playing rights for next season’s Challenge Tour already. The top five on the Order of Merit at the conclusion of Tour Championship will earn a card on next season’s Challenge Tour.

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Irish Adrift at EuroPro Final

Michael McGeady carded an opening round 69 at the 888Poker.com PGA Europo Tour Championship on Tuesday and showed no signs of fatigue from Roganstown on Sunday, where he emerged as Irish PGA Championship, in what was a close contest. 

A three under par round at the Prince's Club in Kent came without loss - after three birdies before the turn - on holes, 2, 4 and nine. His seven way share of 7th reflects a tight leaderboard after round one, with four strokes separating the group from the leader. 

At the end of each season the top five players on the Order of Merit progress to the Challenge Tour, meaning there is more than just the £15,000 winner’s cheque to play for this week.

Paul Grannell shot his best round of the season to lead by two strokes on seven under at the end of the first round. The 28 year old carded a 65 on the opening day of the final event of the 2013 season, and is trailed by four golfers who share second on five under.

Simon Lilly (Wellingborough), Zack Saltman (Archerfield Links Golf Club), William Harrold (Sheringham Golf Club) and Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw Golf Club) all shot 67 and Paul Shields (Kirkhill Golf Club) is one behind in sixth on -4.

Grannell (Vale Royal Abbey) hit eight birdies on Tuesday, with his only blemish a six on the par-five seventh.

“I like links golf, I have always had good success on links courses, as an amateur you play a lot of links golf,” he said.

“It equals my lowest ever tournament round of golf, and it is my lowest round of the year which is always nice to do, especially in the last tournament.

“I have had top 20s in my last three tournaments and two of those going down the closing holes I have been in contention. If I can carry on the form I have been showing then I would like to think I will have a chance.”

Grannell is currently 22nd on the 888poker.com PGA EuroPro Tour Order of Merit and only a win at Prince’s will push him into the all-important top five.

“I am not thinking of any kind of result,” he said. “I am thinking purely of what I have been working on with my coaches. I didn’t know that other guys were at five under until I finished.

“I will do my best to avoid leaderboards for the rest of the week but it is difficult when you walk past them.”

At the end of each season the top five players on the Order of Merit progress to the Challenge Tour, meaning there is more than just the £15,000 winner’s cheque to play for this week.

George Woolgar (level, T31) leads the Tour rankings, with Daniel Gavins (-2, T14), Oliver Farr (-1, T22), Dave Coupland (level, T31) and Paul McKechnie (-3, T7) completing the current top five. Only Woolgar and Gavins have already secured their playing rights for next season’s Challenge Tour.

Time Rice signed for 70 and holds a share of fourteenth place overnight.

Ruaidhri McGee was three strokes further adrift after a mixed first day.

Colm  Moriarty carded a 73, despite an eagle three on the par 6 fifteenth hole, to lie 40th along with Paul Cutler - who ended level par after giving back all four birdies to bogeys either side of the turn.

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