Dunbar survives bogey blues

Irish amateur star Alan Dunbar survived a collapse over the closing seven holes at Wychwood Park before managing to squeeze through to the second stage of European Tour qualifying.

He was coasting as he rounded the turn on the Cheshire course, only to go into meltdown with five bogeys and a double bogey from the 12th hole onwards.

Fortunately for Dunbar, his final round 77 saw him finish tied for 20th place on five-over-par, two shots inside the cut-off point. In all, five Irishmen progressed, with Waterville’s David Higgins the best finisher in joint second after a level-par 72.

Barrie Trainor fired a 72 yesterday to ease to the second qualifying stage in November, tying for fourth. Cian Curley (73) and Jonny Caldwell (75) finished on two-over for a share of 11th.

David Jones and Donal Gleeson bowed out.

Over at Fleesensee in Germany, Niall Kearney carded five birdies in a three-under 69 to book his place in the next phase but Stephen Grant was some way off the pace following a final day 73.

* For the second successive year, Donabate’s Pat Doran had to settle for second in the British Senior Women’s Championship at Hunstanton on the Norfolk coast.

Last year she lost by a stroke to Felicity Johnson and yesterday’s defeat was agonising as she went down in a play-off to Katherine Russell.

They had tied after 54 holes on 234 with Doran completing the homeward half in 33. She fired four birdies in six holes from the 11th. But in sudden-death, they halved the first and then on the 18th — the second play-off hole — Russell fired her approach to six feet of the flag whereas Doran found thick grass and could not match her opponent.

Finland’s Minna Kaamalahti, who retained her Irish Open title last week, finished just a stroke behind Russell and Doran with Sheena McElroy of Grange Club a further stroke back.

Irish Close champion Helen Jones was only a stroke off the pace with nine to play but had two double bogeys in a disappointing 81 for a 238 total put her in joint eighth.

* Australia’s Nikki Garrett retained the lead after the second round of the Tenerife Open de Espana Femenino after a 73 to sit at seven under one shot clear of Caroline Masson, Celine Palomar and Florentyna Parker.