Comfortable McKibbin in contention at windy Andalucía Masters
Tom McKibbin
Tom McKibbin overcame rain and high winds to post a three-under 69 and move into position to make a weekend charge in the Andalucía Masters at Real Club de Golf Sotogrande.
The Galgorm Castle rookie (20) was tied for 14th on five-under at halfway, just four shots behind defending champion Adrian Otaegui, who shot a bogey-free 69, and France's Jeong weon Ko and South Africa's Louis De Jager, who signed for impressive 67s.
They lead by a shot on nine-under from New Zealand's Daniel Hillier with McKibbin well-placed to challenge for his second win of the season following his Porsche European Open breakthrough in June.
“I played solid enough,” McKibbin said. “It’s been a tricky couple of days. The wind has been difficult with winds up to 45 mph yesterday. But I’ve enjoyed the challenge and have been playing nicely. Really like the course. At this point, I’m happy with my position.”
At the Alps Tour Grand Final, Galway's Ronan Mullarney topped the final Order of Merit when he scorched home in six-under 30 to close with a five-under 67 and tie for 20th.
As Alps Tour number one, he secured one of five Challenge Tour cards despite finishing seven shots outside a playoff that saw France's Augustin Holé beat Spain's Quim Vidal on the first extra hole at Asolo Golf Club.
“As much as it is great being on the Alps Tour, tons of nice people, I’m glad to be off the Alps Tour and move on to the next step,” Mullarney said.
“I was happy with my golf this year, I feel ready to compete there. I was able to play a few Challenge Tour events before and I was able to step up my game so now I’m ready.”
The Island's Paul McBride closed with a 70 to finish an excellent tied third, a shot outside the playoff on nine-under, while Rosslare's Paul Murphy tied 29th on level par after a 73.
McBride finished 16th in the Order of Merit and heads for next month's DP World Tour Q-School Second Stage with confidence and form.
Meanwhile, Ireland moved up to tied 19th on 10 under heading into the final round of the World Amateur Team Championships at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
Malone's Matthew McClean shot a four-under 68 to move up to tied 14th individually as Galway’s Liam Nolan shot 70 and Alex Maguire a discarded 72.
Propelled by a five-under 67 from Gordon Sargent and 69s from Nick Dunlap and David Ford, the USA leads France and Norway by four strokes on 24-under par as they seek their first Eisenhower Trophy win since 2014.
PGA Tour-bound Sargent leads the individual standings by one stroke on 12-under par from Norway's Herman Sekne and Australia's Jeff Guan.
Olivia Mehaffey (82-73) missed the cut by five shots in the LET’s Hero Women’s Open at DLF Golf and Country Club in Delhi while in the LET Access Tour, Lauren Walsh shot 80 to finish 26th on eight-over in the Calatayud Ladies Open in Spain, where England’s Hannah Screen clinched her first professional victory after a play off with Germany’s Verena Gimmy.
