Niall Kearney won’t be digesting Christmas Day turkey in Dublin but in Thailand bidding for his Asian Tour card when he tees it up at the Final Stage of the Qualifying School from St Stephen’s Day.

The Royal Dublin player finished tied for ninth at Stage One at Lakeview Resort & Golf Club in Hua Hin at the weekend, carding rounds of 71, 71, 66 and 73

At three under par, he finished five strokes behind American Austen Truslow as Limerick’s Tim Rice shot 77-79 to miss the cut.

A former Walker Cup player and two-time Irish Professional champion, Kearney (30) will be hoping to play all five rounds at the Final Stage at the Lakeview Resort and Golf Club from December 26 to 30.

The top-35 players and ties after 90 holes will earn playing rights on the Asian Tour for 2019.

Entry list