McCarroll fifth in Barcelona as Ballesteros takes 14th

Ballyliffin’s Brendan McCarroll carded his third successive 67 to finish tied for fifth in the Alps Tour’s Peugeot Alps de Barcelona.Ballyliffin’s Brendan McCarroll carded his third successive 67 to finish tied for fifth in the Alps Tour’s Peugeot Alps de Barcelona.

The former East of Ireland champion finished on nine under par, seven strokes adrift of European Tour player Pablo Larrazabal at Golf Sant Cugat Catalunya as amateur Javier Ballesteros, son of the late Severiano, tied for 14th.

Larrazabal added a closing, five under 65 to previous rounds of 64 and 65 to win by four strokes from Ivo Giner on 16 under par.

Barça fan Pablo Larrazabal pays homage to Pep Guardiola with a claret and blue shirt.Law student Ballesteros, who was playing in his first professional event as an amateur, closed with a 68 to move up from 31st to 14th on four under.

“I played my most solid golf today but just neeeded to hole a few more putts,” Ballesteros told the Spanish news agency EFE. “My three bogeys were all three-putts but I hit the ball solidly, made five birdies and left a few shots out there.

“I’m leaving here happy with my performance because I played a tournament at El Prat last week, didn’t hit the ball well but felt okay about my game.

“I’ll take a lot of confidence from this tournament. I like playing with professionals because when I play with them, I play better, I’m more motivated and that helps me to improve.”

Larrazabal, who is a huge FC Barcelona fan, wore a claret and blue shirt as a tribute to Pep Guardiola, who announced on Friday that he woud be stepping down as Barça coach at the end of the season.

McCarroll earned €2,064 to move up to fifth in the Alps Tour money list after two events with Lurgan’s Gareth Shaw in sixth place after finishing 18th at Golf Sant Cugat Catalunya on three under.

Pablo Larrazabal gives Javier Ballesteros some tips.Scores (Click here for full scoreboard)

 .1. Pablo Larrazábal 194 (64+65+65) (-16)
 .2. Ivó Giner 198 (62+69+67)
 .3. Gary Stal (FRA) 199 (67+68+64)
 .4. Álvaro Salto 200 (67+66+67)
 .5. Antonio Hortal 201 (68+67+66)
 .+. Brendan McCarroll (IRL) 201 (67+67+67)
 .+. Jack Senior (ING) 201 (63+70+68)
 .8. Andrea Rota (ITA) 203 (65+71+67)
 .+. Jordi García del Moral 203 (68+67+68)
 .+. Pol Bech 203 (68+65+70)
 .+. Carlos Aguilar 203 (64+68+71)
 14. Javier Ballesteros (am) 206 (65+73+68)
 18. Gareth Shaw (NIr) 207 (68+69+70)