Three deuces keep Power in touch in Mexico; McKibbin rallies; Mullarney wins
TULSA, OK - MAY 21: Seamus Power and caddie Simon Keelan on the eighth green during the third round of the 2022 PGA Championship at the Southern Hills on May 21, 2022 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Photo by Darren Carroll/PGA of America)
Séamus Power continued his hot iron play and made three birdie twos in an opening 67 to lie just five shots off the pace in the World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba.
Looking to build on his second PGA TOUR win in Bermuda last week, the West Waterford man was tied for 16th on four-under after mixing five birdies with one bogey in rainy conditions at El Camaleón Golf Course.
Will Gordon made an eagle and eight birdies in a nine-under 62 to lead by a shot from Russell Henley with Scott Piercy and Francesco Molinari a shot further back after 64s.
Masters champion Scottie Scheffler, who could wrest the world number one ranking back from Rory McIlroy with a win or solo second-place finish was alongside hat-trick-seeking defending champion Viktor Hovland on six-under after a 65
It was a tougher day for the Irish at the Rolex Challenge Tour Grand Final in Mallorca where Tom McKibbin bogeyed five of his first 10 holes before rallying to open with a one-over 73.
Ranked 15th in the race for 20 DP World Tour cards, the Newtownabbey star picked up four shots coming home but was still projected to fall to three paces 18th in the standings.
Kinsale’s John Murphy was also set to fall from 42nd to 43rd in the Rankings after his 76 left him tied 35th in the 45-man field.
McKibbin is tied 21st, five strokes behind Spain’s Have Sainz and Scotland’s Euan Walker, who shot 68s to lead the field by a shot.
Should either player win this week they would be guaranteed a spot in the top 20
On the LPGA Tour, Stephanie Meadow fought back from three-over after 11 holes to open with a one-over 73 in the Toto Japan Classic at Seta Golf Course in Shiga.
Battling to move into the top 60 in the Race to CME Globe Points list who qualify for the CME Group Tour Championship in a fortnight, 81st-ranked Meadow was tied 55th, eight shots behind Japan’s Ai Suzuki and Momoko Ueda.
They shot seven-under 65s in front of big crowds to head compatriots Sakura Koiwai and Ayaka Furue by one stroke.
Meanwhile, Ronan Mullarney topped the First Stage Qualifiers for the Alps Tour Q-School at Acaya by four shots on five-under-par with Cork’s John Hickey also qualifying.
In the First Stage qualifier at Miglianico, Tom Dowdall was 28th after a three-over 73 and Daniel Mulligan 45th after a 76.
There were no Irish in action at Le Fonti.