The Irish Golf Club Gazette: KinkyIrishKid

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11/04/2013

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.

11/03/2013

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.

11/02/2013

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.