Final four on the charge to Catalunya

THERE was joy in southern Spain last night for four Irishmen who battled their way through Stage 2 of the European Tour qualifying process and now go forward to the marathon six-round decider beginning at Catalunya, Girona, on Saturday.

Waterville’s David Higgins, a veteran of these nerve-wracking occasions, came good at Las Colinas in Alicante with a final round of 68 that pushed him up to four under and a share of 16th place along with Limerick’s Cian McNamara, who went round in 69.

Ballymena’s Chris Devlin made light of the pressure over at El Valle, Murcia, as he brought in a superb closing 67 to claim a share of 14th place. Another Northern Ireland star, Jonathan Caldwell, came through a play-off at the same venue to qualify.

However several disappointed Irish players departed. Aaron O’Callaghan, the Cork golfer now attached to Baton Rouge club in Louisiana, compiled four tidy rounds at Las Colinas for two under but finished just outside the cut in 26th spot.

Ballinasloe native Mark Staunton tied for 22nd at El Valle to miss out by the narrowest of margins having closed yesterday with a 73. Former Shamrock Rovers player Stephen Grant played himself into a very promising position with a 66 at El Valle on Sunday but undid a lot of that good work by taking seven more shots yesterday and tied for 25th. Muskerry’s Niall Turner shared 33rd spot at El Valle after yesterday’s 73.

Donegal man Michael McGeady and Neil O’Briain of Royal Dublin both signed for four under par totals over the South course at La Manga in Cartagena but that was only good enough for 30th while Colm Moriarty from Athlone was two strokes further back in 38th.

David Higgins and Cian McNamara didn’t drop a shot between them at Las Colinas, a remarkable feat. Higgins improved 16 places thanks to a round that contained birdies at the fourth, 9th and 13th and not a single blemish. McNamara was only marginally less impressive as he returned 16 pars and birdies at the first and 11th.

Higgins career since he turned professional in 1994 hasn’t taken off quite as much as those who admire his golf swing and calm course management had anticipated. In his rookie year of 1996, he picked up more than e67,000 in prize money to get among the top 100 on the European Tour only to break his left wrist and right elbow in a riding accident from which he took some time to recover.

It meant he had to ply his trade on the Challenge Tour in 1999 and in 2000 Higgins again proved his class by winning three tournaments for second place in the rankings and a return to the main tour. He was back and forth again in the middle years of the new millennium while all the time staking his claim as the leading player on the Irish domestic circuit. He celebrated his 39th birthday last Thursday and has now given himself another great chance of regaining his card as he heads this week for the north of Spain and another tilt at the Tour School.

In contrast, the experience will be something of a novelty for Cian McNamara. He became the youngest South of Ireland champion at Lahinch in 2004 but things haven’t gone entirely the Limerickman’s way since. However, he has always had a tidy short game and calm demeanour and will relish the challenge at Catalunya.