Mooney seeks big finish; MENA Tour success for Irish; Carey third
David Morland IV. Picture: Getty Images
Damian Mooney needs to go low in the final round at the Final Stage of the Staysure Tour Qualifying School to win one of just five cards on offer at Pestana Golf Resort’s Pinta Course.
The big-hitting Belfast man (51) made four birdies in a two-under 69 but lies three shots outside the top five in joint 12th place on three-under-par.
Canada’s David Morland IV fired a 67 to lead by a shot on 10-under par from Kiwi Michael Long with Scottish amateur Euan McIntosh solo third on eight under after a 71. Scores
But while Kilkenny’s Jimmy Bolger (52) made the 54-hole cut with a shot to spare on one-over after an excellent 67, Headfort’s Brendan McGovern (54) bowed out on nine-over after a 75.
Morland IV fired a 67 to lead on 10-under par from Kiwi Michael Long with Scottish amateur Euan McIntosh solo third place on eight under after a 71.
England’s Mark Wharton blasted a nine-under 63 to move up to fourth on six-under with compatriots Mark Young, Andrew Raitt and Gary Marks.
If there is a tie for the fifth and final card at the end of 72 holes, the deadlock will be broken by a hole-by-hole play-off.
Challenge Tour starts
Five Irish players will make their 2020 Challenge Tour debuts in the season-opening Limpopo Championship in South Africa.
Gavin Moynihan, Michael Hoey and Robin Dawson are joined at the Euphoria and Koro Creek clubs 120 miles north of Pretoria by Niall Kearney and Conor O’Rourke.
MENA Tour success for Irish
Meanwhile, six Irish golfers will be teeing it up on the MENA Tour (Middle East and North Africa) this year.
Robin Dawson, Conor O'Rourke, Conor Purcell, Paul McBride and Rory McNamara are exempt while amateur Dan Byrne also has a category.
Dawson and O’Rourke earned their status with strong finishes in the Dubai Desert Classic qualifier earlier this month before Purcell, McNamara and McBride came through the Q-School.
McBride finished joint first on seven under par in Qualifying School B yesterday after rounds of 70, 69 and 70 but lost out in a playoff as McNamara finished 16th on two-over, one stroke ahead of Irish Amateur Open champion James Newton.
Carey third in Portugal
On the Portugal Pro Golf Tour, Dubliner David Carey (23) could not turn his second round 61 into victory, carding a 69 to finish third in the Dom Pedro Victoria Open in Vilamoura, one shot behind Spain’s Noemi Jimenez, who edged out Ashton Turner.
Portugal Pro Golf Tour, Dom Pedro Victoria Open, Dom Pedro Victoria GC (Par 72)
1, Noemi Jimenez (Esp) 70 66 67 203;
2, A Turner (Eng) 65 68 70 203;
3, D Carey (Irl) 74 61 69.
Other Irish:
9, JR Galbraith 69 71 68 208;
20, J Hickey 73 70 70 213;
43, E Leonard 73 70 76 219;
45, S Grehan 76 76 69 221;
53, S Montgomery (Am) 78 71 74 223;
60, T Dowdall (Am) 81 75 70 226;
67, C Butler (Am) 77 78 73 228.
