Challenge Tour, European TourBrian KeoghCian McNamara, European Tour Qualifying School, Neil O Briain, Niall TurnerComment

Q-School joy for Irish trio

Challenge Tour, European TourBrian KeoghCian McNamara, European Tour Qualifying School, Neil O Briain, Niall TurnerComment

Cian McNamara made it to Stage Two of the Q-School.Three Irishmen came through the European Tour First Qualifying Stage – Section C at Golf d’Hardelot in France.

Muskerry’s Niall Turner (274: 68 64 70 72 - 7th), Royal Dublin’s Neil O’Briain (275: 66 67 73 69 - T9) and Limerick’s Cian McNamara (277: 65 73 67 72 - 16th) where among the 21 players to make it through to Stage Two on six under 278 or better.

Sweden Andreas Högberg closed with a 68 to lead the qualifiers on 13 under par 271, one ahead of England’s Gareth Davies (67), Frenchman Alexander Levy (67) and Spain’s Adrian Otaegui (69).

Paul O’Hanlon (285: 73 67 69 76 - 47th) and Tim Rice (286: 69 73 70 74 - T48) will have to wait until next season to chase their European Tour dreams.

There were no Irishmen among the 26 qualifiers at Bogogno in Italy where Finn Jaakko Makitalo carded a final round 66 – his fourth successive round in the 60s – to finish on 18 under par 270 and four strokes clear of American Scott Pinckney and an impressive seven strokes ahead of the pack.

Lurgan’s Gareth Shaw closed with a 78 to finish nine shots outside the four under par qualifying mark on 294 with Ruaidhri Magee’s 76 leaving him on 295.

Amateur Robbie Cannon missed the 54-hole cut by a shot after rounds of 72, 76 and 73 with Richard Kilpatrick a shot further back after scores of 71, 74 and 77

So far, seven Irish players out of 28 have made it to Stage Two through sections A, B, and C - Turner, O’Briain, McNamara, Stephen Grant, Jonny Caldwell, Aaron O’Callaghan and Noel Fox.

Another 13 will be in action at Section D qualifiers in Portugal and England next week (see entrants here), including Walker Cup hero Paul Cutler.

The goal is to make it to Stage Two, which will be played at four Spanish venues - Costa Ballena Ocean Club, Las Colinas G & CC, El Valle Golf Resort and the South Course at La Manga Club - in the first week in December.

Those who make the grade at the Second Qualifying Stage move on to the six-round examination of the Final Qualifying Stage at PGA Catalunya Resort, Girona, Spain from December 10-15.