Irish hopefuls’ final push at Tour’s Q School

THE MAJORITY of the 13-strong Irish contingent at the second stage of the European Tour School in Spain remain in contention for places in next week’s final Tour School.

The 72-hole qualifier at four different venues has tested the nerve and skill of 380 players seeking the approximately 80 spots on offer in the six-round marathon, beginning at Catalunya, near Girona on Saturday next. A minimum of 16 places will be available at each of the four courses.

Neil Ó Briain from Royal Dublin, a former amateur international, is best positioned going into today’s final round. So far, he has compiled commendably steady rounds of 69, 72 and 71 for a share of ninth on seven under par 212 at La Manga, yesterday’s fine effort highlighted by four birdies in a row from the third.

Ó Briain consolidated still further at the ninth to reach the turn in 33 and although he bogeyed the 12th and 18th, avoided the kinds of disasters that can destroy a player’s chance in a twinkle in one of the most pressurised events in all of golf. Michael McGeady followed Saturday’s fine 68 at La Manga with a less-than-satisfactory 74 yesterday. He is currently in 32nd place and in need of a sub-par round today if he is to progress.

Waterville’s David Higgins was cruising along after opening rounds of 68 and 69 but yesterday’s 75 dropped him well down the field at Las Colinas where he is tied for 32nd on one under and with a great deal to do today.

Best of the Irish at the 71 venue is Limerick’s Cian McNamara whose rounds of 67, 73 and 71 leave him on two under 211 and in a share of 25th. He will also need to dip under par today to get through, while the task awaiting Aaron O’Callaghan formerly of Douglas and now assistant pro at Baton Rouge in Louisiana, sharing 32nd with Higgins after a fighting 70, and Niall Kearney, 37th in spite of a splendid 68, is more difficult still.

Mark Staunton from the Castleknock club in Dublin has shot 69, 72 and 70 to stand two under at El Valle and tied for 19th. But few did better yesterday than Stephen Grant, the 34-year-old former Shamrock Rovers footballer and a native of Birr, Co Offaly. He followed moderate rounds of 72 and 74 at El Valle with a sparkling 66 in which he birdied the third, fourth and eighth in an outward 33 and picked up further shots at the 10th, 14th and 18th with the only blemish coming at the 17th.

Grant is currently tied for 22nd over a par 71 layout on which Staunton, Jonathan Caldwell (tied 24th) and Chris Devlin (sharing 27th) are not without hope of advancing.