Munster stars to the fore at Euro Q School

MUNSTER golfers Cian McNamara, Aaron O’Callaghan and David Higgins yesterday played themselves into promising positions after the first day of the second qualifying stage of the European Tour School at four venues in Spain.

McNamara, who became the youngest winner of the South of Ireland Championship at Lahinch in 2004, is tied for sixth after shooting a splendid four under par 67 over the Las Colinas course in Alicante. He finished a stroke ahead of Cork’s Aaron O’Callaghan and David Higgins, who are in a share of 12th.

Generally speaking, it was a good day for the 13-strong Irish contingent. Chris Devlin is tied for 12th at El Valle in Murcia after a three under par 68 that leaves him a shot ahead of another Northern Ireland hopeful, Jonathan Caldwell while Dubliner Neil O’Briain shot a five under 68 at La Manga, Cartagena, to close the day in a share of 10th.

However, there are still three rounds still to go before approximately 80 players from the 310 in action this week qualify for the final school at Catalunya, Girona from December 10 to December 15.

Not a whole lot was heard of Cian McNamara after he turned professional in 2006 having captured the South title while still in teens. He has concentrated on playing the Irish domestic circuit combined with appearances on the EuroPro Tour and is also very much in demand for lessons by the members at Limerick Golf Club.

Inspired by a nerve-settling birdie at his opening hole, McNamara went on to pick up further shots at the 5th and 8th to reach the turn in a blemishless 32. He went five under with further gains at the 11th and 12th and refused to be deterred by a bogey at No 13 as he finished strongly with five straight pars for a 67.

It leaves him just one stroke behind a group of five on 66 that includes the experienced Englishman Ben Barham.

25-year-old Aaron O’Callaghan was a foursomes partner of Rory McIlroy when they figured on the same Irish amateur teams. He went to college at Southeastern, Louisiana, and is now an assistant pro at nearby Baton Rouge Country Club. Unlike McNamara, the Corkman opened with a disappointing bogey but fought back with three birdies to reach the turn in 33. He again demonstrated his battling qualities by atoning for another dropped shot at the 13th by immediately making further birdies at the 14th and 15th.

Waterville’s David Higgins had less reason to be happy with his 68 given that he reached the turn in 32 only to run up bogeys at the par five 10th and 18th on the way home. He celebrated his 39th birthday on Thursday and, after shooting five birdies, appears to have his game in good shape.

Neil O’Briain, a 25 year-old from Royal Dublin and yet another former amateur international, put in an outstanding performance to tie for 10th after a four under par 69 at La Manga.

He was out in 33 and atoned for bogeys at the12th and 13th by closing with birdies 2 and 4 at the 17th and 18th.

Irish scores:

At Las Colinas, Alicante, par 71.

67 Cian McNamara

68 David Higgins, Aaron O’Callaghan

72 Niall Kearney

78 Brendan McCarroll.

La Manga, Cartagena (par 73)

69 Neil O’Briain

75 Michael McGeady, Colm Moriarty.

El Valle, Murcia (par 71)

68 Chris Devlin

69 Jonathan Caldwell, Mark Staunton

72 Niall Turner, Stephen Grant