Slow starts for Byrne and Walsh in LPGA bids; no joy for Irish in Phoenix, Alabama and Thailand
Sara Byrne. Picture: LET
Sara Byrne and Lauren Walsh have work to do to win their cards at the LPGA Q-Series Final Qualifying Stage in Alabama.
Douglas star Byrne made three birdies and a bogey to turn in two under on the Crossings Course at RTJ Golf Trail at Magnolia Grove.
But she bogeyed the 13th, 17th and 18th to open with a one over 73 that left her tied for 52nd in the battle to make the top 25 and ties after five rounds who will win cards.
China’s Yu Liu shot a blistering nine-under 62 on the Falls Course to lead by two shots from Germany's Isi Gabsa.
Castlewarden’s Walsh fought back from four over after nine holes on the Falls to card a three-over 74 that left her tied for 76th.
PGA TOUR Champions
At the PGA TOUR Champions Qualifying Tournament Final Stage, Chris Devlin shot two-under 69 in the third round but lies ties for 32nd on three-under, eight shots outside the top five who will be awarded cards.
Overnight leader Søren Kjeldsen extended his lead to three strokes following a third-round 65.
The Dane leads by three shots on 19 under from Freddie Jacobsen and by six from Dickie Pride.
Scott Barr is fourth in 12 under with Felipe Aguilar and Brendan Jones joint fifth on 11-under.
Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher is a shot further back after a 68.
Korn Ferry Tour
Meanwhile, Enniscorthy’s Paul Conroy saw his slim hopes of qualifying for the Final Stage of the Korn Ferry Tour Q-School fade with a third round 75 in the second stage in Alabama.
The Wexford man is tied 75th on 13 over at RTJ Golf Trail at Highland Oaks.
The top 17 and ties who will progresso to TPC Sawgrass next week were on six-under or better.
Asian Tour
It was also a disappointing morning on Friday for the Irish in the final round of the Asian Tour Qualifying School (Section D) qualifier at Pattana Sports Resort in Thailand.
Only the top 18 and ties progressed to the Final Stage later this month but there was no joy for Whitehead’s John Ross Galbraith or KInsale’s John Murphy.
Galbraith closed with a three-over 73 to miss out by four strokes on four over par while Murphy retired on seven over after 54 holes following rounds of 69, 76 and 72.
Irish interest in the Asian Tour continues next week when Kevin Phelan, Declan Kenny and Paul Dunne play the Section F qualifier at Grand Prix Golf Club and Niall Kearney and Michael Young tee it up at Springfield Royal Country Club in Section G.
The Final Stage will be played at Lake View Resort and Golf Club from 17-20 December with the top-35 earning their cards after five rounds.
