Kearney up to fifth at Asian Tour Q-School qualifier
Sejun Yoon (USA)
Niall Kearney is just a round away from qualifying for next week’s Final Stage of the Asian Tour Qualifying School in Thailand.
The Dubliner, 28, added a 68 to rounds of 70 and 64 to move up to tied fifth on 14 under par 202 in the First Stage Section B qualifier at Suvarnabhumi Golf & Country Club in Bangkok, four shots behind Korea’s Junhyeok Park.
A former Walker Cup player and two time Irish Professional champion, Kearney made five birdies and one bogey in his four under par round and has dropped just three strokes in 54 holes with the top 25 and ties to progress to the Final Stage at the same venue from January 11-14.
At Windsor Park Golf Club, the other Section B qualifier, Korea's Youngjea Byun fired a six-under-par 66 to lead by one shot over compatriot Songgyu Yoo.
American Ryan McCormick remained two shots off the pace in third place with overnight leader Kento Nakai of Japan following respective rounds of 66 and 70.
Players need to finish inside top-26 and ties on the final leaderboard at the Windsor Park Golf Club to qualify for the Final Stage next week.
At the Suvarnabumi Golf and Country Club, Park traded six birdies against one bogey to sign for a 67 and lead by one shot on 18-under-par 198.
Overnight leader and amateur Michael Harradine of Switzerland carded a 69 to slip to second place while American Sejun Yoon carded a 70 to sit in third on 200.