Fog delays play at The Oxfordshire
Walker Cup ace Niall Kearney blasted a third round 68 in Germany to keep his tour dream alive at the first stage of the European Tour Qualifying School.
Mervyn Owens is looking good in BerlinWith the top 27 and ties progressing to November’s second stage, the Royal Dublin amateur moved into a share of eighth place on five under at Fleesensee near Berlin with Mallow's Mervyn Owens a shot further back after a 73.
In France, Ulsterman Eddie Barr hit a 70 at Golf de Moliets to move into a share of eighth on eight under par with Limerick’s Cian McNamara well-placed in tied 15th on six under.
37 Irish heading to Q-School
Walker Cup player Niall Kearney is one of 37 Irishmen who have entered the first stage of the European Tour Qualifying School later this month.
The 21-year old Royal Dublin amateur will tee it up in a 115-man field at Fleesensee Golf and Country Club near Berlin from September 22-25 alongside Justin Brink and fellow South of Ireland champions Mark Campbell and Mervyn Owens.
Kearney is one of six Irish amateurs amongst the 749 hopefuls who will begin their bids of European Tour cards at stage one. The others are Ulstermen Byron Campbell and Ruairi McGee, Newlands’ Irish international Cian Curley, Royal Dublin’s Neil O Briain and Portmarnock’s James Fox.
Portstewart’s Paul Cutler, who was disappointed not to make the Walker Cup side this year, has not entered.
Campbell focussed on card quest
Swinging shrink Mark Campbell needed a police escort to hospital the last time he went to the European Tour Qualifying School.
This time the highly qualified doctor of psychology, 28, is back to his best and physically and mentally ready for the torture of golf’s toughest test.
