Royal Dublin’s Niall Kearney can end a frustrating season on a high after carding the lowest round of his European Tour career in the Golf in Dubai Championship presented by DP World.

The Dubliner (32) made the cut at Qualifying School last year to secure a full season on the Challenge Tour and minor status on the main circuit.

But with his season destroyed by the coronavirus pandemic, the two-time former Irish PGA winner managed just three European Tour starts before being forced to withdraw from October's Scottish Championship with a back injury.

His year looked over until this week's $1.2 million event was added to the schedule and he’s determined to take full advantage after firing seven birdies in a European Tour career-low 67 on the Fire Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates to make the three-under-par cut with ease on six-under-par.

"I hit it in nice and tight today, and I'm looking forward to the last two rounds now," said Kearney, who is tied for 43rd, 11 strokes behind England's Andy Sullivan.

Scores

"My distance control was spot on, so I gave myself plenty of chances and managed to convert them, and the back feels good after what turned out to be just a flare-up in Scotland."

Sullivan (33) made an eagle and five birdies in a 66 to lead by three shots on 17-under par from compatriots Matt Wallace and Ross Fisher— just one stroke shy of Ernie Els's 18 under par record for the lowest first 36 holes in the 2004 Heineken Classic.

Gavin Moynihan added a 74 to his opening 77, however, and can now recharge his batteries for 2021 following a miserable season that has seen him make just four cuts from 19 starts.

On the LPGA Tour, Galgorm Castle's Stephanie Meadow struggled to a four-over 75 in the Volunteer of American Classic in Texas.

Third in her last start, the Jordanstown star (28) hit just six greens in testing conditions as she followed early bogeys at the 10th and 12th with birdies at the 13th and 15th but then racked up four bogeys on her back nine.

She was seven shots behind England's Charley Hull who opened with a three-under 68 to lead by a shot from Jessica Korda, Jennifer Kupcho and Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum with Leona Maguire two-over play through 16 holes when play was suspended due to darkness.

Scores

Maguire was tied for 31st on a freezing day at Old American Golf Club near Dallas with Meadow tied 58th.

In Mexico, Scotland’s Russell Knox shot a six-under 65 to lead by a shot from Chile's Joaquim Niemann, Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo and American Tom Hoge in the PGA Tour’s Mayakoba Golf Classic at Playa Del Carmen.

Scores

Graeme McDowell tied 70th after a one-over 72.