Big numbers derail Irish in Mauritius and Australia; Meadow rallies at Q-School
Stephanie Meadow. Picture ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy
Mount Juliet's Gavin Moynihan was left to rue a quadruple bogey seven as Darren Clarke was treated to a scoring clinic by India's Arjun Atwal at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open.
Playing in his first official start as a European Tour card holder, Moynihan (23) was cruising at one-under par with just six holes to go when the took seven at the Heritage Golf Club's 195-yard 13th.
He recovered with birdies at the short 15th and par-five 18th, but a one-over-par 72 leaves tied for 83rd and battling to make the cut at the idyllic Indian Ocean venue.
Clarke (49) made a triple bogey seven at the sixth before dropping two shots in his last three for a 76 that leaves him tied for 138th on five-over.
But playing partner Atwal, who will captain the Asian Tour in January's EurAsia Cup, could do no wrong, signing for a course record, nine-under-par 62 despite not getting a practice round.
"I was in Kuala Lumpur the last two days to announce the players in Team Asia for the EurAsia Cup and I had some media activities to do," Atwal said after a blistering, bogey-free effort that featured an eagle and seven birdies.
"I had no practice round and straight on the first tee. I’m pleased and shocked. I took a very long route coming here. I came through Dubai and it took me 16 hours to get here.
"I was tired and I didn’t really expect anything. Sometimes when you don’t expect much, you get a lot out of it.”
Germany’s Sebastian Heisele, Brazil’s Adilson da Silva, South African pair Louis de Jager and Ockie Strydom and Miguel Tabuena of the Philippines carded five-under 66s to share second place.
Meanwhile, Michael Hoey had a triple bogey seven at his ninth hole in a three-over 75 in the Australian PGA Championship in Queensland to lie 124th as leaders Jordan Zunic and Adam Bland shot 66s to lead by one from a five-man pack that included Masters champion, Sergio Garcia.
At the Final Stage of the LPGA Tour Qualifying School in Florida, Jordanstown's Stephanie Meadow bounced back from an opening 78 with a two-under 70 on the Hills Course at LPGA International.
The former Curtis Cup star was tied for 70th on four-over-par with only 70 players qualifying for the fifth and final round in the 90-hole race for 20 LPGA Tour cards.
