Q-School: Dawson hits route 66 in Madrid

November 4, 2018 Brian Keogh

Robin Dawson

Robin Dawson made seven birdies in a six-under 66 to move inside the qualifying places at halfway in the Second Stage of the European Tour Qualifying School.

The Tramore talent got off to a fast start at El Encin Golf Hotel on the outskirts of Madrid, picking up shots at four of his first six holes.

He made his only bogey of the day at the par-three 16th (his seventh) but birdied the 17th, first and seventh to finish the day tied for ninth on eight-under par, five strokes behind Australia’s Josh Geary.

With around 20 players to make it through at each of the four Second Stage venue, he’s the only one of Ireland’s ten-strong challenge who is comfortably inside the qualifying mark - usually 25 percent of the field.

Cormac Sharvin shot 73 in Madrid to fall 31 spots to tied 45th on three-under as Neil O’Briain’s 72 relegated him 23 places to 51st on two-under.

Gary Hurley (73) and Gavin Moynihan (70) are the best placed of the Irish at Desert Springs in Almería, tied for 23rd on four-under par at a venue where Australia’s Deyen Lawson leads by two from Scotland’s Scott Henry on 14-under after a brace of 65s.

Jonathan’s Caldwell’s 67 moved him up 19 spots to tied 35th on three-under, just two strokes outside the qualifying spots, while Kevin Phelan (73) is 59th on four-over.

Naas’ Conor O’Rourke is tied 57th on two-over at Alenda Golf in Alicante after he made two bogeys and 16 pars in a 74 while at nearby Las Colinas Golf and Country Club, Ruaidhri McGee (72) is 47th on one-over with Cameron Raymond (70) 57th on three-over at a venue where the top 20 are four-under or better.