McBride hits the front on Alps Tour in Catalonia
Paul McBride. Photo Credit: Federico Capretti / Alps Tour Golf
The Island’s Paul McBride made ten birdies in an eight-under 63 to take a two-stroke lead into the final round of the Alps Tour’s Aravell Golf Open by Creand in Catalonia.
The former Walker Cup star (27) leads on 12-under par from Italy’s Manfredi Manica with France’s Oihan Guillamoundeguy three shots back at the Lleida venue.
McBride made four birdies and two bogeys to turn in 33 before making six more in a homeward 30 that included five birdies in a row from the 12th as he covered his last seven holes in six-under.
"I played well on the front nine but made two bad mistakes which caused me the two bogeys I made,” said McBride, who could leap from 53rd into the top 20 in the Order of Merit with a win in what is the fifth-last event of the season.
“On the back nine, I got it going making six birdies in my last seven holes. I hit it close quite a lot and my putting was very good. “One of the shots I hit was to about 30 feet and I made the putt which was on the 15th hole, which I would consider a bonus because the other were pretty close to the pins.
“Overall, it was a good round and I'm definitely satisfied."
When asked about the final round tomorrow, he said his goal was to "approach it the same way I approached my round today.”
He added: “I just want to keep playing my game and see what that leads me to at the end of the third round."
Mallow’s James Sugrue is tied for 11th on four-under after a second-round 71 with Galway’s Ronan Mullarney, who lies second in the Order of Merit, is tied 34th on level par after a 70.
The winner of the 2023 Aravell Golf Open by Creand will earn the winning check of €5,000 and 5,000 Order of Merit Points.
