Teen amateurs Carey and O'Driscoll shine at Alps Tour Q-School
David Carey (Carton House) on the 11th tee during the Quarter-Finals of the Irish Amateur Close Championship at Seapoint Golf Club on Tuesday 10th June 2014. Picture: Thos Caffrey / www.golffile.ie
Teenagers David Carey and Tommy O'Driscoll made the cut as former footballer Stephen Grant led the Irish challenge into the final round of the Alps Tour Qualifying School in Spain.
Grant, 37, had an eagle, five birdies, two bogeys and a double in a three under 69 on the Asia Course at La Cala to go into he final round tied for second place on three under, five shots behind runaway lead Tim Gornik of Slovenia. Scores
Even more impressive given their youth were the performances of amateurs Carey and O'Driscoll at the Malaga resort where Headfort's Rory McNamara (75) missed the six over par cut by one stroke and Simon Ward by three after a nightmarish 10 at his 13th hole.
Tommy O'Driscoll (Ring of Kerry) on the 7th tee during Round 3 of the Irish Youths Amateur Close Championship in Ardglass. 29th August 2014. Picture: Thos Caffrey / www.golffile.ie
Carton House player Carey, 18, might still be at school but he was superb on the Europa Course, racking up eight birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey in a four under par 67 that catapulted hm from 131st to tied 54th on six over par.
The top 65 and ties made the halfway cut and 18-year old Ulster Boys champion O'Driscoll from Killarney was also in fine form as he moved up 22 spots to tied 24th on two over after making six birdies in one under 70 on the Europa Course.
Neither Carey nor O'Driscoll are intending to turn professional and play on the Alps Tour and merely entered the event to gain international experience.
McNamara carded a 75 on the Europa Course, dropping five shots in a five hole stretch from the 12th but while he birdied the 17th, he couldn't birdie the last and missed out.
Two-time South of Ireland winner Ward began the day on five over but after battlng his way back to just three over and comfortably inside the cut mark, he ran up a sextuple bogey 10 at the driveable fourth, his 13th.
The leading 35 and tied after Wednesday's third round will be ranked according to score and become eligible for membership in Category 6 of the Alps Tour for the 2015 season.
Players making the cut of the Final Qualifying Stage and finishing beyond 35th place will be eligible for membership in Category 8 of the Alps Tour for the 2015 season and will be subject to the 2015 re-rank policy adopted by the Alps Tour Committee.