Paul Dunne going well in Asian Tour qualifying bid

Paul Dunne

Paul Dunne is in position to qualify for next week’s Final Stage of the Asian Tour Qualifying School in Thailand.

The Greystones man made an eagle, two birdies and two bogeys as he added a two under 69 to his opening 65 to share seventh place at halfway at Grand Prix Golf Club in Kanchanaburi.

At eight under par, the former British Masters champion is six strokes behind Thailand’s Chonjarern Baramithanaseth with the top 17 who progress on six under or better.

Declan Kenny shot a one under 70 to share 24th on five under, leaving him a shot outside the top 17, who will be determined by a hole-by-hole playoff in the event of ties.

Waterford’s Kevin Phelan is a shot further back on four under after a second successive 69, tied for 34th alongside 2019 North of Ireland champion Aaron Edwards Hill from England.

No Irish players are in action at Phoenix Gold Golf Bangkok, where 20 spots are up for grabs.

But the Irish have work to do to win one of 20 spots at Springfield Royal Country Club in Cha-Am.

Royal Dublin’s Niall Kearney made five birdies and three bogeys in a two under 70 to share 36th on one under, leaving him just two strokes outside the top 20.

France-based Kerryman Michael Young shot a four over 76 and at two over par and lies tied for 55th, five shots outside the qualifying places with two rounds to go.

The Final Stage of the Asian Tour Qualifying School takes place at Lake View Resort and Golf Club in Hua Hin from December 17-21 where 240 players will battle to make the top 35 after five rounds who will earn cards for the 2025 season.

Irish players have yet to come through pre-qualifying.

John Ross Galbraith and John Murphy missed out at Pattana Sports Resort in Chonburi last week.