Golf:A stuttering finish took the edge off Niall Kearney's storming run up the leaderboard on the fourth day of the European Tour's Qualifying School at PGA Golf Catalunya, Spain where Gary Murphy lost ground but still made it into the final two rounds with Simon Thornton the third Irishman advancing to the latter stages.
Kearney, who is making his professional debut in Girona this week, kept his composure for most of the day and at one stage was five-under for his round and inside the top 10.
The 21-year-old’s card contained two birdies (third and sixth) on the front nine to turn in 34 before further birdies were gleaned at the 10th and 11th. His first blemish of the day came with a bogey at 13 but that was soon rectified with a momentum boosting eagle at the par five 15th.
With the finish line in sight, however, this year’s Brabazon Trophy winner and Walker Cup player took his eye off the ball for he closed with bogeys at 16 and 18 before signing for a three-under 69. It still left the Royal Dublin golfer well-placed in a tie for 24th on seven-under.
Murphy had a day to forget as he shipped five bogeys against three birdies to sign for a 74. The 37-year-old is still in the hunt to regain his tour card because at four-under he was inside the top 70 and ties who advance to the final two rounds.
Thornton also did enough as his 69 left the former Irish PGA order of merit winner tied 49th alongside Murphy.
Jonathan Caldwell missed out after a 72 left the Clandeboye golfer on level par but that only told part of his story. As always at Q-Shcool there are tales of woe, some worse than others. For Caldwell it was agony as he carded an eight at the 18th when a par would have been enough to see him through.
Colm Moriarty blew any chances he had after a 76 dropped the Athlone pro back to two-over, while John Kelly battled for a 67 but the damage was done earlier in the week as he signed-off on six-over.
England's Simon Khan broke away from his compatriot Charlie Ford with today's 66 to take the outright lead on 20-under, four ahead of Ford (70) who dropped to third. Spain's Alejandro Canizares muscled his way into second on 17-under with a best of the day 65.
“I’m happy with a 66 because I did what I set out to do,” said Khan. “I didn’t get too down on myself after the slow start, and my attitude’s been pretty good all week really. All I’ve been concentrating on is my own game, and not worrying about anything else. I putted well, particularly on the back nine, and generally I’ve been reading the greens pretty well.
“To shoot 66 is always good but especially so on that course because it’s a tough test. I’ve got out of the mindset of setting a score in my head and trying to shoot it, and instead just playing golf. If I can do that over the next two days, I should be alright.”
Heavy frost at the start of the day caused a delay of one-hour and 15 minutes which meant six players opted to finish their rounds tomorrow morning due to darkness - their scores will not affect the fate of the Irish players.
The top 70 players and ties made it through to the final two rounds, after which the top 30 and ties will earn their playing rights to the main tour next season.
Irish Scores:
Qualifiers (for final two rounds)
-7 Niall Kearney (72,68,68 69)
-4 Gary Murphy (69,67,70,74), Simon Thornton (67,75,69,69)
Failed to qualify
L Jonathan Caldwell (67,77,68 72)
+2 Colm Moriarty (65,77,68,76)
+6 John Kelly (72,78,73,67)
