Seven-birdie blitz keeps Ruaidhri McGee in Tour card hunt

Gavin Moynihan is challenging for overall victory, but Derry’s Ruaidhri McGee still has a chance of winning his European Tour card after he sensationally rattled in seven birdies in his last eight holes to make the cut at the nerve-shredding Qualifying School in Spain.

Three strokes outside the projected 72-hole cut mark overnight, the 26-year-old looked out for the count when he went to the turn in two over par at Lumine Golf Club’s tight and tricky Hills Course near Tarragona.

He was five shots outside salvation at that stage, but with nothing to lose, he produced the best back nine of the day — a scorching seven-under 29 — as a five-under 67 catapulted him 30 spots up the leaderboard to tied 50th.