McKibbin needs solid weekend after second successive 73 at Rolex Grand Final
Tom McKibbin in action during the Rolex Callenge Tour Grand Final at Alcanada Golf Club in Mallorca. Picture: Niall O'Shea
Tom McKibbin needs a solid weekend to win one of 20 DP World Tour cards after carding a second successive one-over 73 in the Rolex Challenge Tour Grand Final in Mallorca.
The Holywood star shares 23rd on two-over, six shots behind leaders Matthew Baldwin and Adrien Saddier.
He’s projected to fall from 15th to 19th in the race to finish in the all-important top 20 in the Rankings with John Murphy projected 44th after a 72 left him 32nd on four-over.
The 45-man field is guaranteed spots at the Final Stage of Q-School next week but while McKibbin has room for manoeuvre, he will be grinding to sew up his card this week,
Saddier produced a sublime seven under par 65 and Baldwin a three under 69 to lead on five-under-par on a day when tee times were brought forward due to 45 mph winds.
Slow play meant join overnight leader Euan Walker finished in the worst of the wind and he officially protested about what he felt was non-enforcement of slow play rules by officials after carding a 75 to fall to tied sixth on one-under.
After taking five hours and 20 minutes alongside Spaniard Javier Sainz and Frenchman Jeong weon Ko, Walker told The Scotsman: “They’ve been allowing players to take two, three, four, five minutes to hit a shot. I mean, it’s unacceptable. We knew the wind was coming in the afternoon and they just needed to get us round in the morning.
“But, right from the start, no one is on the pace of play and I feel why am I even bothering to adhere to the pace of play when nobody else is. They know exactly who the slow players are, but nobody does anything about it, so it is a bit frustrating from that point of view.”
Germany’s Nick Bachem is third on four under par, while Weon Ko posted a level par 72 to remain on three under in fourth place.
Englishman John Parry also needed 72 strokes on day two to stay at two under par and complete the top five.
Road to Mallorca Number One Jeremy Freiburghaus is one of five players in a tie for sixth place and he is still projected to finish the season on top of the Rankings, while Saddier or Baldwin would earn a spot in the top 20 if they close out victory in Mallorca.
