Profile - Stephen Grant

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Stephen Grant continues to progress in his career, having switched the football field for the fairways, after a lower back problem first prompted him to hang up his football boots at Shamrock Rovers.

A final round of 67 in St Augustine, Florida last week at St. Johns Golf & Country Club ensured further action at the PGA Tour Qualifying School. His fifteenth place sufficient for a place at Stage 2 in mid November. 

A trip he will make after European Tour School Qualifying Stage 2 as he is scheduled to tee-off at Las Colinas on November 2nd along side Niall Kearney, Brenda McCarroll, Ruairdhri McGee, Damian Mooney and David Rawluk.

Before his premature retirement in 2004, Grant enjoyed a productive playing career as a striker in Ireland and England. A career was bookended with two spells at Shamrock Rovers where, after scoring on his debut against Bohemians in 1996, he returned five years later to end his playing days as the club’s leading scorer in the 2003/2004 season. 

Grant recalls those times; “I had ten good years as a footballer, and enjoyed every one of them. The thing I miss most is probably the training, because it’s a lot of fun. It’s also handy having ten other players on the team to bail you out if you’re having a bad day!

“Whereas golf is obviously an individual sport, so it’s down to you and you only. Plus there’s a bit less camaraderie and you also spend a lot longer practising, so it can be quite a lonely experience at times. But I’ve no regrets, because I’m really enjoying testing myself out here.” 

As a latecomer to the game Grant is understandably keen to make up for lost time.

“I was completely out of my depth when I turned pro only three years after touching a golf club for the first time. So I got some experience on the EPD Tour, played pretty well and was up near the top of the Order of Merit for most of the season. Then I travelled over to the States and spent a season on the Hooters Tour, which was another great learning experience for me.

“I think I probably jumped into the game too quickly, and expected too much of myself. Now that I’ve got a lot more experience to draw on, it should hopefully stand me in good stead this season and going forward. 

“After I turned pro I was probably only making about 30 per cent of cuts. But over the last two or three years I think I’ve only missed three cuts in more than 50 events. So even though I haven’t managed to win a tournament yet, I’ve improved my consistency massively. I just want to keep playing and keep improving, and hopefully within the next couple of years I’ll make it onto The European Tour.” 

During his football career Grant played for Athlone Town, Sunderland, Shamrock Rovers(two stints 154 competitive appearances), Stockport County, Burnley, Finn Harps, Waterford United, Boston Bulldogs, Galway United and Shelbourne.

After playing for Athlone and Sunderland reserves his first taste of senior football came when Pat Byrne signed him for Rovers in October 1996. He became an instant hero by scoring on his League of Ireland debut against rivals Bohemians. After 4 goals in 22 appearances he signed for Stockport for £10,000 in 1997.

Grant returned to Rovers in the summer of 2001 and wrote himself into the history books by becoming the first Irish player to score against a Polish side in a European competition when Rovers beat Odra Wodzisław in the UEFA Intertoto Cup in June 2003. In all he made 6 appearances in Europe for Rovers.

As a Republic of Ireland Under -21 he scored 1 goal in 4 appearances during the Madeira Cup trophy victory in February 2006.

These days though it is all about and this season Grant has been based in Florida and is playing on the NGA Tour, formerly the Hooters Tour, and his best finish was in March where he was T14 at the Milton Martin Honda Classic at Chattahoochee Golf Club. 

On the Challenge Tour this season he has played only a third of the events compared to last year, and missed all three cuts.

FactFile

Height: 6'1".

DoB: Apr/14/1977.

Turned Pro: 2009.

Birth Place: Ireland.

Residence: Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

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Grant, Kearney and Shaw Challenge

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Stephen Grant signed for two under par rounds at the Aegean Airlines Challenge - carding 70 and 71 - at Bad Giesbach in Germany for a share of 21st place on Friday night.

Grant was three off the lead despite making bogey at 18 for the second day in a row. 

Niall Kearney signed for 72 with Gareth Shaw one stroke further adrift to remain one-under.

Alan Dunbar missed the cut with +10 after a second round 78

Andrew Johnston has continued where he left off last week in Scotland to form part of a five way tie for the lead after two rounds at the Aegean Airlines Challenge Tour by Hartl Resort.

Fresh off his maiden title at the Scottish Hydro Challenge hosted by Macdonald Hotels and Resorts less than seven days ago, the Englishman fired a five under par round of 67 on Friday to join the front runners in Germany.

Alongside Johnston on that mark is overnight leader Björn Åkesson, who had looked like pulling away from the field until a triple bogey seven on his 15th hole. That saw him drop back into a tie alongside the Englishman, as well as Barclays Kenya Open Champion Jake Roos (69), England’s Chris Hanson (67), and Italian Alessandro Tadini (66).

As for last week’s winner in the Scottish Highlands, he was clearly pleased with his round, but in his typical style, remained laid back about the position he finds himself in.

“It was good today,” said the man affectionately referred to as Beef. “I felt like I played well yesterday but didn’t get the most out of the par fives, so I just tried to do that better today, which was the key to my improvement.

“I just need to keep playing my game. I said that last week, I need to stick to the game plan I have laid out for the course and just hope it works out.

“Last week taught me that you can’t panic if you hit a bad shot, or get flustered, you just need to stay confident and be aggressive on the course. I’m feeling good in my game, and I don’t like to worry too much. There are always good players up there every week, and you just have to see what happens in the end.”

It could have been better for Åkesson though, after he got to nine under par around the turn on day two, having started at the tenth.

On his back nine he failed to get up and down for a par at the fifth, before a lost ball at the sixth cost him a further three shots. He is happy with his position after 36 holes though, and feels his game is good enough to contend for a maiden win over the weekend.

“It was a real roller coaster day today,” said the man from Malmo. “I played solid enough until I hit it into the water on my third hole and made a bogey, but I kept playing good and had some chances after that.

“Five, six and seven are tough holes though, and I missed the green at the fifth and didn’t get up and down. Then on the sixth I lost a ball down the right hand side and made a bogey with my second, so I made a triple there. I made some good pars after that though, and was pleased with a birdie at the eighth.

“I know that I have a lot of birdies in me, so if I make a bogey or a double then I feel like I can recover it pretty quickly. It was tougher today with the wind, but I am happy. The triple was unfortunate but I am playing well and in a good position heading into the weekend.”

It continues to be especially tight behind the leading five players, with a further seven within a stroke of the lead heading into the final 36 holes.

Amongst that group is the leading German, Florian Fritsch, who fired an eight under par score of 64 on Friday to hurtle 97 places up the leaderboard. He has tasted success on the Beckenbauer Course before, having won two Bavarian State PGA Championships, and he bounced back from a disappointing opening round with aplomb to be ideally placed to claim a first Challenge Tour title on Sunday.

Cyril Bouniol is also in good position alongside Fritsch at five under after a level par score on day two. The Frenchman, who is based in America, played his first 35 holes without a bogey, but a double at the 18th hole cost him the lead heading into the weekend.

Only Moritz Lampert has won twice so far in 2014, and he is just two strokes back in a tie for 13th heading into the final two rounds, with a win on Sunday set to guarantee him automatic graduation to The European Tour.

Another German, Marcel Schneider is also well placed at four under par, thanks in part to a holed second shot for eagle at the par four ninth in the second round.

Only seven shots separate the leaders and those who made the cut at one over par, which should make for an interesting weekend. However, one man who won’t be adding to his impressive Rankings total so far this season is the leader Jordi Garcia Pinto, after he missed the qualifying mark by a couple in Bavaria.

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Eagle Grants Stephen Hydro Chance

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Stephen Grant eagled his eighth hole carding a three on the par seventeenth hole on the Challenge Tour to finish Thursday on 67 strokes at the Scottish Hydro Challege and two shots off the leaders at the MacDonald Spey Valley Club

With three birdies in all, it was just the one dropped shot on  the par sixteenth for Grant.

Leader Mark Tullo soared into a share of the lead midway through the opening day, despite arriving at the ‘Home of Golf’ over 30 hours later than expected due to the airport strikes in France.

The Chilean carded a six under par opening round of 65 at the sun-kissed Macdonald Spey Valley Golf Club to join Englishman Jason Barnes at the top of the leaderboard, with the afternoon groups yet to finish.

The 36 year old, who claimed a tied third place finish in his last event at the Najeti Hotels et Golfs Open, teed off at the 11th and carded successive birdies at the 12th and 13th holes before another at the ninth took him to the turn in three under.

Three more birdies on the way home took him one shot clear alongside Barnes, and Tullo was delighted with his round, especially given he almost missed the tournament due to his travel woes.

“It’s amazing here in this weather,” said the two-time Challenge Tour winner, whose second victory came in Egypt with a certain Rory McIlroy in the field as an invite. “I actually barely recognized the golf course without the wind.

“For me, Scotland with sunny weather is one of the best places in the world. Playing golf here with this weather is just priceless. It’s still fun with wind and rain but in this weather, this golf course is amazing.

“It took me over 30 hours to get here from Malaga. I got here at 10pm last night. I was supposed to be here on Tuesday at 2pm, so it was a nightmare getting here. Luckily I had played here a couple of times before butt my hurts and my back hurts from sitting around for so long.

“I even thought about grabbing a train from London because I was worried I might not make the tournament but luckily enough I got here in the end.

“I know this place very well but it helped having good weather and I'm really happy with the round.

“I made some good shots and made some good putts. I didn’t even have a chance of a bogey out there.It was very steady, I hit every green. It was an easy scoring day for me, no mistakes, and hit 17 greens and made good birdies. 

“I've been playing good but my putting has been so so, but I've been working on it with my coach and it’s helped me to putt well. Hopefully the weather will help for the rest of the week. I'm feeling comfortable and calm.”

Barnes was also relishing the sunny weather in the holiday town of Aviemore and he was confident of keeping his good form going for the rest of the week.

“It’s a great place to be, beautiful. It’s much different to what I'm used to in London. I can’t hear anything, no traffic, no noise, it’s brilliant.

“I pulled out last year to get a week off because I wasn’t playing very well but I really regretted it. It’s a really nice place, it’s like a home from home.

“Everything is really coming together nicely for me. The confidence is starting to grow. There are a few holes out there that are tough driving holes and a few weeks ago I might have wimped out and hit less club just to hit the fairway but today it was just going for it with the driver.

“I'm confident, definitely. Bring on tomorrow, hopefully we can get more weather like this and we can see how low I go.”

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Grant Starts Out Level

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Stephen Grant opened with a birdie on the par 5 first hole at the PGA Tour Second Stage Qualifying on the Plantation Golf and Country Club in Florida on Tuesday.

A series of dropped shots on the way to the turn - two bogeys and a double at the par four 6th - left Grant 3 at the halfway mark. But  recoveries on holes 12 and 14th brought him back level for the round at 71 - for a share of 50th place.

Nick Lindheim is the early leader after carding a 65

The second stage is an all-or-nothing affair for most of the participants. Players who advance to the third and final stage are guaranteed at least conditional status on the Web.com Tour, which is the only pathway to the PGA TOUR. Most who miss out at second stage will start 2014 without status on that circuit.

Q-school’s second stage concludes this week at four sites that will be played Tuesday-Friday. Two sites were held last week (click here for results). The second stage always features a mix of young up-and-comers and former PGA TOUR winners.

Billy Mayfair, Arjun Atwal, Eric Axley, Frank Lickliter, Peter Lonard, Chris Smith, Marc Turnesa are among the former PGA TOUR winners competing this week.

The q-school fields also are full of players just starting their pro careers.

Three 2013 first-team All-Americans are taking part in second stage this week – Daniel Berger, James Erkenbeck and Michael Kim. They’re looking to join fellow first-teamers Max Homa and Justin Thomas at q-school’s final stage; Homa and Thomas advanced last week.

Thomas was the 2012 NCAA player of the year. Kim, a junior at Cal, won that award this year; he is competing in second stage as an amateur. He earned an exemption into second stage by finishing 17th at this year’s U.S. Open. Kim, Homa and Thomas were teammates on this year's victorious U.S. Walker Cup squad.

Erkenbeck and Kim are competing at Bear Creek Golf Club in Murrieta, California, Berger, runner-up to Homa at this year’s NCAA Championship, is playing at Plantation (Fla.) Preserve. He turned pro earlier this year after his sophomore season at Cal.

Kim is not the only collegian competing at Bear Creek. University of Southern California junior Anthony Paolucci also is competing at Bear Creek; he finished 29th in the 2011 Farmers Insurance Open while still in high school. Chris Williams, who turned pro earlier this year as the world’s No. 1 amateur, also is playing at Bear Creek.

Australia’s Brady Watt, the world’s No. 8 amateur and a semifinalist at this year’s U.S. Amateur, is playing second stage in Gautier, Mississippi,  as is Tadd Fujikawa, who made the cut in the 2007 Sony Open in Hawaii as a 16-year-old.

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Grant Tees off PGA Q-School

Stephen Grant returns to action this week in the PGA Tour Qualifying School Second Stage in Florida on Tuesday, just weeks after a disappointing card chase in Spain at Stage 2 of the European Tour Q School.

At Plantation Preserve Golf and Country Club this week the Birr golfer, now based in Flroida. has four rounds to battle for a place at the PGA Tour Final Qualifying at La Quinta in California scheduled for mid December

The second stage of q-school is an important step in most players’ careers. Few are fortunate enough to avoid it.

The second stage is an all-or-nothing affair for most of the participants. Players who advance to the third and final stage are guaranteed at least conditional status on the Web.com Tour, which is the only pathway to the PGA TOUR. Most who miss out at second stage will start 2014 without status on that circuit.

Q-school’s second stage concludes this week at four sites that will be played Tuesday-Friday. Two sites were held last week. The second stage always features a mix of young up-and-comers and former PGA TOUR winners.

Billy Mayfair, Arjun Atwal, Eric Axley, Frank Lickliter, Peter Lonard, Chris Smith, Marc Turnesa are among the former PGA TOUR winners competing this week.

The q-school fields also are full of players just starting their pro careers.

Three 2013 first-team All-Americans are taking part in second stage this week – Daniel Berger, James Erkenbeck and Michael Kim. They’re looking to join fellow first-teamers Max Homa and Justin Thomas at q-school’s final stage; Homa and Thomas advanced last week.

Thomas was the 2012 NCAA player of the year. Kim, a junior at Cal, won that award this year; he is competing in second stage as an amateur. He earned an exemption into second stage by finishing 17th at this year’s U.S. Open. Kim, Homa and Thomas were teammates on this year's victorious U.S. Walker Cup squad.

Erkenbeck and Kim are competing at Bear Creek Golf Club in Murrieta, Calif. Berger, runner-up to Homa at this year’s NCAA Championship, is playing at Plantation (Fla.) Preserve. He turned pro earlier this year after his sophomore season at Cal.

Kim is not the only collegian competing at Bear Creek. University of Southern California junior Anthony Paolucci also is competing at Bear Creek; he finished 29th in the 2011 Farmers Insurance Open while still in high school. Chris Williams, who turned pro earlier this year as the world’s No. 1 amateur, also is playing at Bear Creek.

Australia’s Brady Watt, the world’s No. 8 amateur and a semifinalist at this year’s U.S. Amateur, is playing second stage in Gautier, Miss., as is Tadd Fujikawa, who made the cut in the 2007 Sony Open in Hawaii as a 16-year-old.

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McGee Steady at Q School

European Tour

Ruaidhri McGee proved consistent with a third round 67 at Las Colinas Golf and Country Club on Monday to retain a share 5th place going into the final round of European Tour Qualifying School Stage Two.

Four birdies without loss from the Rosapenna golfer ensured he stayed well inside the mark to ensure progress to the final stage next week at PGA Catalunya.

England’s James Heath will take a seven stroke lead into the final round following a seven under par 64 in Spain. Heath posted seven birdies to move to 19 under par and extend his advantage over the field, with Welshman Liam Bond (67) and South African Brandon Stone (68) joint second on 12 under par.

There are 17 spots in the Qualifying School Final Stage available from La Colinas, with seven players currently tied in the 17th and final position.

Niall Kearney is four places off the mark and just one stroke away after his two under round of 69 fell a bit short short, carding just two birdies on the day in a blemish free round.

Damian Mooney eagled his ninth and eleventh holes to finish in a share of 40th after a round of 70, suffering a double bogey on the par 5 third hole. His hopes of progressing further this year are still in the mix as the Q School veteran is currently just four off 17th place with a round to play.

Stephen Grant however is out of the race after a third round 70 mixed birdies and bogeys on Monday leaving the former Shamrock Rovers player in a share of 50th place.

Brendan McCarroll finished one over par and is T69 ahead of Tuesday’s final round with the dreams of further qualifying now put aside on this occasion.

David Rawluk did not complete the third round.

At Campo de Golf El Saler, Spaniard Carlos Del Moral and Italian Niccolo Quintarelli both posted rounds of 72 to share the lead on seven under par, with Scotland’s Neil Fenwick two shots back on five under par following a 73.

Kevin Phelan peppered his card with red and blue to finish with a 74 for share of 16th place – one inside the minimum to see more action next week. The Walker Cup man needs more than two over par in the final round to be safe. 

Colm Moriarty dropped four strokes by the turn yet managed to finish level on the back nine to keep the damage at a four over par 76. Although placed 31st overnight a three shot swing sees the Glasson professional back in the mix and through to the next stage.

Alan Dunbar finished round three carding 73 and shares 61st place and off the pace needed at this level.

John Daniel Guiney signed for a 78 and the Ballybunion man well out of this event since the first day 82, which all but ended his hopes this year.

There are 17 spots available from El Saler.

At Lumine Golf & Beach Club, England’s Chris Hanson has a two stroke lead heading into the final round following a four under par round 67 for a 12 under total of 201.

Hanson has fellow Englishman Daniel Gavins on his tail on five under par, with the pair hoping to seal among the 17 player to progress to the Final Stage in two weeks. Currently, nine players are in a tied for 16th position on six under par, including English pair Zane Scotland and Tom Murray, son of former European Tour winner Andrew.

Dermot McElroy signed for a 69 after three birdies sent him into 25th place – and just one stroke off a share of 16th. So fortune will favour the brave on Tuesday and a place in the Final stage next week may still beckon. 

At Valle Romano play was suspended due to high winds, with 14 groups still yet to start their third rounds.

Play will resume at 9am on Tuesday morning with round four now schedule to get underway on Wednesday, with 18 spots at Final Stage available.

Gareth Shaw is 46st overnight and five shots off the group on T16, the minimum requirement needed. But with two rounds still left to play there are 36 holes of golf to help him move up the leader board.

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McGee Best in Class

European Tour

Ruaidhri McGee finished in a share of fifth place at European Tour Qualifying School Stage 2 at Las Colinas to keep his PGA Catalunya hopes alive after a one under par 70 on Sunday.

A double bogey on the first did not bode well for the Rosapenna professional for his Round 2 hopes. However three birdies on the way to the turn brought McGee under par and a level finish at the eighteenth secured a spot seven strokes from the leader James Heath. More importantly well inside the coveted first fifteen places with two days to go.

Stephen Grant went the opposite direction after a strong start on Saturday, to finish day two in a tie for 78th place - carding a round of 78. A double bogey on the par four 12th the major damage in a round that also included six bogeys.

Niall Kearney moved to a share of 21st with a second day 71, despite a double  bogey on the par 4 sixth. 

Damian Mooney fired a 69 and moved to 39th spot cruising around Las Colinas in two under par.

Brendan McCarroll was ten strokes worse though and a 79 included a double and triple bogey on Sunday.

David Rawluk is 66th after carding a second round 75 and unlikely to make it beyond Monday's cut.

At Campo de Golf El Saler the pace is being set by Carlos Del Moral from Spain and Niccolo Quintarelli from Italy on -7, where the best of the Irish, Kevin Phelan, was 72 for the day and sharing twentieth place.

The Waterford man has some work to do for a final Stage spot after his round of 35 and 37 reflected little drama he encountered,  as he matched birdies and bogeys to finish level. 

Colm Moriarty was one better with 71 but four places further adrift on day two after his one over par opening round. 

John Daniel Guiney signed for  a 75 with a  double on the par 4 sixth the damage, leaving him in 75th spot at the half way stage.

Alan Dunbar signed for 80 despite an eagle 2 on par four 14th. That good news aside the card was just too blue with no recovery birdies to improve his chances.

At Lumine Golf and Beach Club in Tarragona Dermot McElroy finished three under par on Sunday to finish 20th and five strokes off the leader Chris Hanson - who was unable to match his first 64 - and signed for a round of 70.

At Valle Romano Golf Gareth Shaw finished with a three under par 68, and only good enough for a share of 46th place. Three players share the lead on -10, Nikolai E Nissen, Gary Stal and Lee Bedford.

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Grant and McGee Top Class

Photo: Gordon McCadden

Stephen Grant and Ruaidhri McGee set the Irish pace at European Tour Qualifying Stage Two on Saturday with rounds of 67 at Las Colinas, in a tie for 8th place on the first day. A total of four strokes separate them from the leader, James Heath, who carded eight birdies with just one loss, to finish the back nine in 31 strokes.

Heath leads in Alicante on -7.

Grant showed the continued form after PGA Tour qualifying a two weeks ago and completed an error free round with four birdies. McGee, winner of Stage 1, had just one stetback when he bogeyed the par three 13th.

Brendan McCarroll was two strokes further back in a share of eighteenth after a first round 69.

Niall Kearney was one in under par and in 28th place on Saturday

Damian Mooney carded a 74 which also included a double on the par 4 sixth.

David Rawluk finished with a 75 on opening day and has much work to do to make the third round cut.

At El Saler Kevin Phelan led the Irish challenge with 71 and that was only good enough for 16th place as Sweden's Pelle Edberg carded a 66 to lead at -6. 

Colm Moriarty finished one over par on 73 and is in 37th to join Alan Dunbar in Valencia.

John Daniel Guiney's run may have ended after reaching the eighteenth on 38 strokes, then double bogeying his eleventh hole - the par four second - followed by a triple on the next to end his day on 82.

At El Lumine Dermot McElroy suffered a double on the sixth but recovered to sign for a level par 71. But in 41st as England's Chris Hannon leads on 7 under  after signing for a 64.

Valle Romano saw  Gareth Shaw end the day on 72 strokes with the pace setter Pontus Widegren of Sweden carding a 64.

There are still a number of exempt places in field for the Qualifying School Final to be determined following the conclusion of the Challenge Tour Grand Final and the publication of the Challenge Tour Rankings. 

Therefore the exact number of spots available at each 2nd Stage venue will not be announced until this is published on Sunday 3rd November in the afternoon.

However, there will be a minimum of 15 spots available at each venue.

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