Mooney makes bright start at Tour School

BIG-HITTING Damian Mooney followed up the longest drive ofhis career with a solid opening round in the frost-delayed European Tour Qualifying School finals at PGA Catalunya Resort in Spain.

The burly, 42-year-old Belfast man flew home on Tuesday to recharge his batteries after coming third in his second-stage qualifier in Jerez. But the weather chaos in Ireland forced him to jet to Alicante instead of Girona last Thursday and drive nearly 400 miles up the east coast to the venue where he is bidding to earn his tour card for the first time by finishing inside the top 30 and ties after six rounds.

Despite his six-hour journey, he had an extra 24 hours to recover following the suspension of play due to heavy frost on Saturday and took advantage by firing a two-under-par 68 on the 6,660-yard Tour Course to share 20th place and lead the Irish quartet.