NIALL KEARNEY believes he’s ready to join his old amateur team mates Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry on the European Tour after a brilliant three-under par 69 left him inside the vital top 30 after four rounds of the Qualifying School finals at PGA Golf de Catalunya.

Irishman Jonathan Caldwell’s bid to join his close friend Rory McIlroy on the European Tour got off to a purposeful start in the opening round of the qualifying school final at PGA Golf de Catalunya near Girona.

EIGHT Irish golfers came through the first qualifying stage of the European Tour Qualifying School over the St Annes Old Links in Lancashire yesterday.