Irish Golf News

Ricardo Gouveia. Picture: Getty Images

Rosapenna’s Ruaidhri McGee made a brave last stand but while he finished a fine 12th in the season-ending NBO Golf Classic Grand Final he came up more than €18,626 short in his bid to win his European Tour card via the Road to Oman Rankings.

The 24-year old Derry native closed with a four under par 68 to finish on eight under par, five shots behind Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia, who won the final event and the Road to Oman Rankings with the highest total earnings for a season in European Challenge Tour history — €251,591.

McGee arrived in Oman knowing he needed at least a solo third place finish to move up from 27th into the Top 15 in the Rankings who gained automatic promotion to the the European Tour.

An opening 73 was a yoke around McGee’s neck and while he was nine under par for the last three rounds, he ended up tied for 12th,  five behind the winner on eight under par.

A cheque for €8,300 left McGee where he started the week, 27th in the Road to Oman rankings and boosted his earnings to €61,727 from 21 starts.

The Ulster golfer started the season brilliantly and was in the Top 15 for the first half of the season but he ran out of steam a little in June and a missed cut in the Foshan Open two weeks ago coupled with average finishes in Kazakhstan, Italy and Ireland proved costly.

McGee will now head for the Final Stage of Q-School, which starts at PGA Catalunya Resort next Saturday, where he is expected to be joined by Peter Lawrie, Damien McGrane and Kevin Phelan as well as the Irish survivors from this weekend’s four Second Stage qualifiers.

As for the NBO Golf Classic,  Gouveia produced a closing 65 to complete a remarkable double.

The Portuguese came into the season finale as the man to catch after a remarkable year in which he had already claimed 11 top tens in 17 starts.

And he  lived up to his headline billing with a remarkable seven under par final round – the lowest round of the week – at Muscat’s Almouj Golf, The Wave.

The 24 year old rolled in five straight birdies on the back nine as he set a clubhouse target of 13 under par that could not be matched, Dane Joachim B Hansen finishing one shot further back having led for the first three rounds.

“I have no words,” said Gouveia. “I got my rhythm back in the middle of the round and my putter was really hot on the back nine, I holed a lot of good putts and obviously the most important one on 18 to probably secure the win.

“It was an amazing afternoon, a great week and I just have no words to describe this season.

“It was almost like being on auto-pilot today. I was feeling a little nervous but not too much because I was just in that zone and I just started playing really well and making birdies. I’m just really happy.

“I saw on the tenth tee that I was a bit far back and then after birdies on 12, 13 and 14 I saw the leaderboard on 15 and I was one ahead, then one more birdie on 16 put me two ahead at that point. Then on 18 I saw the big leaderboard to see what I needed on the last and just holed a beautiful putt.

“I don’t know how I will celebrate but I definitely will have a good time with a few family that I have in London and my girlfriend.

“It was great to close out both trophies, the Rankings and this event. That was my goal for the week, to win the event, and I was a bit far back in the middle of the round but then got it going on the back nine.

“It’s the best venue that we come to all year, the best course and the best set-up. The weather is always perfect and it makes total sense for the Grand Final to be held here and hopefully they will keep coming for many years.”

Gouveia was already certain of his spot on The European Tour before the week began but there was much uncertainty about who else would be joining him by finishing in the top 15 in the Rankings.

Hansen’s runner-up finish, birdieing the final three holes, earned him a return to the top table, climbing from 17th to fifth place, while his compatriot Jeff Winther had a flawless final round, a six under par 66 helping him to a share of third place on 11 under par and moving up from 18th to 11th spot, and a place on The European Tour.

Callum Shinkwin’s tied-third finish was also enough for the Englishman to climb ten places and finish 13th in the Rankings, while Nacho Elvira, already a European Tour player after three wins on the Challenge Tour this season, finished alongside him on 11 under par.

Brandon Stone was another not to drop a shot in calmer conditions than forecast, and the South African’s sixth place finish was enough for him to take the 14th spot in the Rankings on an emotional day for many players.

“Heading into this year my goal was to finish top 15,” said Stone, who had a nervous wait before learning of his fate. “To achieve that goal is incredible – it’s just something special. To fulfil a life goal is unimaginably special to me.”

On the wrong side of the line were Scott Henry of Scotland and Englishman Max Orrin, both of whom were inside the predicted 15 for much of the day but whose final round 67s, earning a tie for seventh place, saw them fall agonisingly short of European Tour spots.

Ryan Fox was another who was desperately unlucky, the New Zealander shooting a flawless round of 66 but dropping to 16th place in the Rankings when it mattered the most, just €2,350 behind Jamie McLeary in the 15th and final spot.

But the day, and the 2015 season, was all about Gouveia, whose second win this year following his victory at the AEGEAN Airlines Challenge Tour by Hartl Resort took him to more than €250,000 earned this year and saw him eclipse Edoardo Molinari’s season’s earnings record by €8,612.

NBO Golf Classic Grand Final, Oman (Par 72)

275 R Gouveia (Por) 67 67 76 65,

276 J Hansen (Den) 66 67 76 67, 

277 C Shinkwin (Eng) 69 72 68 68, J Winther (Den) 70 68 73 66, N Elvira (Esp) 70 69 70 68,

278 B Stone (RSA) 71 71 68 68,

279 J Robinson (Eng) 68 70 71 70, J Dantorp (Swe) 69 70 70 70, R Davies (Wal) 73 68 70 68, M Orrin (Eng) 70 66 76 67, S Henry (Sco) 69 71 72 67, 

280 R Evans (Eng) 68 71 71 70, T Linard (Fra) 70 70 72 68, Ruaidhri McGee (Irl) 73 69 70 68,

282 J Fahrbring (Swe) 73 72 69 68, R McGowan (Eng) 72 68 72 70,

283 J Hahn (USA) 70 71 70 72, B Virto Astudillo (Esp) 71 71 69 72, S Gros (Fra) 69 74 69 71,

284 D Foos (Ger) 72 67 72 73, D Huizing (Ned) 70 69 76 69, S Soderberg (Swe) 74 70 72 68,

285 D Im (USA) 71 67 77 70,

287 G Murray (Sco) 70 71 77 69, A Björk (Swe) 73 73 71 70,

288 R Fox (Nzl) 74 67 81 66, J Senior (Eng) 74 70 74 70, B Åkesson (Swe) 68 69 82 69, T Murray (Eng) 69 75 74 70, 

289 P Whiteford (Sco) 73 67 77 72, C Hanson (Eng) 70 73 76 70, R Coles (Eng) 74 69 74 72, A McArthur (Sco) 75 71 71 72,

290 H Joannes (Bel) 71 72 75 72, C Sordet (Fra) 76 72 73 69,

291 M Delpodio (Ita) 70 72 78 71, H Porteous (RSA) 76 78 66 71, G Boyd (Eng) 74 72 76 69, P Widegren (Swe) 70 73 74 74, S Jeppesen (Swe) 70 74 73 74,

292 L Gagli (Ita) 71 74 75 72,

293 S Arnold (Aus) 72 71 76 74,

297 J McLeary (Sco) 78 71 77 71,

301 S Walker (Eng) 76 73 81 71, 

303 M Søgaard (Den) 72 75 82 74 

Road to Oman Rankings – Final Top 15 Pos Previous Name Country Played Euro 

1. (1) Ricardo GOUVEIA (POR) (18) 251,591 
2. (2) Sebastien GROS (FRA) (18) 178,645 
3. (3) Borja VIRTO ASTUDILLO (ESP) (17) 150,465 
4. (5) Nacho ELVIRA (ESP) (14) 114,877 
5. (17) Joachim B. HANSEN (DEN) (20) 113,135 
6. (4) Björn ÅKESSON (SWE) (18) 104,538 
7. (6) Gary BOYD (ENG) (15) 96,290 
8. (8) Rhys DAVIES (WAL) (20) 94,832 
9. (9) Thomas LINARD (FRA) (19) 91,258 
10. (7) Jens FAHRBRING (SWE) (20) 89,730 
11. (18) Jeff WINTHER (DEN) (18) 87,033 
12. (10) Andrew MCARTHUR (SCO) (15) 82,544 
13. (23) Callum SHINKWIN (ENG) (15) 81,081 
14. (19) Brandon STONE (RSA) (18) 80,979 
15. (11) Jamie MCLEARY (SCO) (19) 80,353

---- Irish placings

• 27 (27) Ruaidhri MCGEE (IRE) (21) €61,727
• 52 (52) Chris SELFRIDGE (NIR) (12) €30,589
• 73 (73) Gareth SHAW (NIR) (13) €19,079
• 129 (129) Michael McGEADY (IRL) (10) €8,358    
• 136 (136) Simon THORNTON (IRL) (9) €7,167
• 175 (175) Richard KILPATRICK (NIR) (4) €2,238    
• 203 (203) Stephen GRANT (IRL) (7) €586    

 

Li Hao-tong. Getty Images

Rory McIlroy doesn’t just have to worry about the putting brilliance of a Jordan Spieth or the emergence of another ball striking monster in the Jason Day mold. Now he’s got China on his mind.

The world’s most populous nation is now producing great golfers, such as local hero Li Hao-tong, who fired a 66 to be tied for second with Dustin Johnson (65), one shot behind clubhouse leader Kevin Kisner (70) in the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai.

.@McIlroyRory and @RickieFowler in slow motion. #HSBCChampions https://t.co/F7NJ7baXbK

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 7, 2015

As McIlroy again struggled on the greens, taking 32 putts in a 68 to move up to tied 21st on eight under, Kisner posted four birdies in a round of 70 to move to 16 under par, one shot clear of Johnson, Li and Scott Russell Knox, who still has one hole left to play after darkness cut short his third round in Shanghai. 

The threat of lightning had led to a lengthy suspension in the morning, and when play got underway Li made four successive birdies from the first to eat into Kisner’s overnight advantage. 

The 20 year old, who came agonisingly close to winning the Shenzhen International earlier in the season, eventually signed for a round of 66 and a 15 under par aggregate total.

Li will have a place in the record books in his sights on the final day, as he bids to become the youngest player – and the first from China – to win a World Golf Championship event.

There's something a bit special about this kid. #HSBCChampions https://t.co/NKW8t5HV4M

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 7, 2015

Giles Morgan,  HSBC’s Global Head of Sponsorship and Events, is cleary delighted to see Li in contention.

“If anyone wants to see just how far golf in China has come over the last decade then look at the leaderboard,” Morgan said. “It’s an incredible story and shows exactly why HSBC supports golf and why our junior programs are so important to our sponsorships.“Hao-tong is one of our own. He was first introduced to the game as a youngster and graduated through the ranks of the HSBC China Junior Golf Program, a development program we started eight years ago."Our vision was to have a player from the program finish in the top twenty in the World Golf Championships within a decade.  And there is every chance that will happen tomorrow or even better."For China and golf to have a homegrown player to be amongst the leaders in ‘Asia’s major’ really is special and no matter what happens tomorrow this is already a defining moment. China is becoming a growing force in the game and Li’s inspired play is proving it once again this week.”

Johnson represents a big threat to the youngster’s hopes of creating history after the World Number Eight joined Li and Knox in a share of second place courtesy of a round of 65.

The lowest round of the day was posted by two-time Major Champion Jordan Spieth, who signed for a flawless 63 to move firmly into contention on 13 under par. The World Number Two was joined in a share of fifth place by England’s Ross Fisher and his fellow European Tour Member Patrick Reed of America.

Spieth and McIlroy began the day on four under but the Masters and US Open champion had 24 putts in a nine birdie round and still complained that he coud have putted a little better.

“I missed four putts inside eight feet today and that’s also not normal in a round of golf,” Spieth said. “So what could have been and what it was, both are special and obviously pleased, because I’ve got a few longer ones to go."

McIlroy had three putted the 16th on Friday, not bothering to mark and clean his ball after leaving his first putt well short.

He showed similar levels of frustration in round three with most of his misses to the right but sounded like a man simply hoping for it all to come right on Sunday with a 62 or 63 leading to an unlikely win or a backdoor top 10 finish.

“Again, I’m hitting the ball well from tee-to-green, and I’ve been struggling on the greens, not just this week but for the past few weeks,” said Race to Dubai leader McIlroy, who is taking next week off before the season-ending DP World Tour Championship. “So I was trying to figure out how to turn that around, and if I do, then I know that there’s a lot of low scores in me.”

Insisting he was back to full health following his bout of food poisoning, he said: "I'm good. I'm much better. I feel good. So I don't think my health's a concern anymore. Just something that was working on me for a few days and thankfully it’s out of my system.

"I felt like I hit the ball really good out there. There was no problems with weakness or lack of energy. I felt like, again, as I said I hit the ball well. My rhythm is back in my swing.

"Eighteen holes doesn’t feel like a slog. I'm feeling much better and I'm hitting the ball well. Just haven’t scored as well as I feel like I should have this week.”

He added: “I’m glad to at least get finished. ...depending what the leaders do, if they are not too far away, if I can shoot 63 or 62 out there tomorrow and post a score, even if that doesn't win, get myself to the top ten or top five, it will still be an okay week.

If McIlroy has had a frustrating week on the greens, it’s been utter torture for Shane Lowry who had 36 putts in a third round 72 after taking 37 on Thursday and 33 yesterday as he cancelled out three birdies with three bogeys and lies tied 70th on five over.

Kevin Kisner, 70 (-16 total)“I played well today. The weather was difficult, but I hung in there and made some birdies coming in to give myself a chance to be leading going into tomorrow.“My theory on the Tour and trying to win is your lead is never safe because some guy is going to make birdies. Look at Jordan today, his name popped up, I don't even know where he started and he was on the leaderboard. Just keep making birdies is what I'm going to try to do. I'll look up on about 15 and 16 and see if I need to change my game plan.”Dustin Johnson, 65 (-15 total)“It’s always great to be up there and feel like you have a chance on Sunday. I'll definitely have a chance to win tomorrow, and you know, that's kind of all you can ask for. Two years ago here, I had a three-shot lead on Sunday and tomorrow, I'm one behind, but I just need to go out and do what I did today. Just drive it in the fairway and get a lot of looks at birdies.”Li Hao-tong, 66 (-15 total)“This tournament is so big. I know that the final day, a lot of people are going to be hitting a lot of birdies. My target, my goal for this tournament it to make the top ten, because making the top ten would  be a highlight and a milestone for my short career. I hope that tomorrow I can do well and finish at the position of where I want to.”Russell Knox, (-3 after 17 holes, -15 total)“I played beautifully for the first 12 holes, and then I started to limp in a little bit. I decided not to play the last hole because it was awfully dark. “Our group spoke on the 17th tee. We could easily have not played, but we all hit great shots and walked off with either a birdie or a par. Then Branden and Kevin wanted to get it done on the last, but it was into the wind, so I thought I’d just wait until the morning and see if I can catch it downwind or with no wind at all.“My caddie didn’t want me to play the last, so I’m happy with my decision. It just means I’m going to have to wake up a lot earlier in the morning, so it will be a multiple breakfast day tomorrow.”Jordan Spieth, 63 (-13 total)“Today I came out knowing that it was a gettable golf course. We had a rain delay after the first two holes, I was at even par and those first two were playing pretty easy, so I was pretty frustrated with that and came out and just got it going from there. Once one or two putts went in, a few more did.“I missed four putts inside eight feet today and that's also not normal in a round of golf. So what could have been and what it was, both are special and obviously I’m pleased.”Ross Fisher, 65 (-13 total)“I’m absolutely delighted. I knew the scoring was going to be pretty good today. The first two days, I was kind of playing catch-up, having played with Russell who played very solid. I knew I had to go out and just try to shoot as good a score as I could to try to get myself in with a chance tomorrow. So to go out and shoot seven under, one bogey, six birdies and an eagle, I’m very pleased.”

Gary Hurley started well at the Second Stage of Q-School on Friday. Picture by Pat Cashman

West Waterford’s Gary Hurley fired five birdies in an opening 68 to get his qualifying bid off to a positive start in the 72-hole European Tour Qualifying School Second Stage in Spain.

The Walker Cup hero is one of 267 hopefuls in action at four venues and while the number of qualifying spots available will not be determined until the Challenge Tour’s NBO Golf Classic Grand Final finishes today, at least 60 players in total are expected to progress, around 15 at each course.

That’s good news for Hurley, who is tied for 14th on three under par alongside Rathmore’s Alan Dunbar at Lumine Golf and Beach Club in Tarragona, two shots off the lead, with Open Championship hero Paul Dunne from Greystones tied 39th after a one under 70.

Eight of Ireland’s 12-strong contingent broke par and seven of them start round two inside the magic number who will progress to the Final Stage at PGA Catalunya from November 14-19 and battle to finish inside the top 25 and ties.

Walker Cup star Gavin Moynihan shot a four under 68 and shares third spot, two shots behind 48 year old former Ryder Cup player Jarmo Sandelin at El Saler in Valencia where Moyola Park’s Chris Selfridge (70) is joint 17th but Mick McGeady (76) slipped to 61st.

At Panoramica Golf and Sport Resort in Castellón, Headfort’s Brian Casey blasted a seven under 65 to lie solo third, three strokes behind Spanish amateur Scott Fernandez (62).

Amateur international Colm Campbell from Warrenpoint posted six birdies in a super 68 at the same venue to share 13th with Rory McIlroy’s former Walker Cup partner, Jonny Caldwell of Clandeboye.

But Naas’ Jack Hume, who was also a member of the winning Walker Cup side, has work to do at the Castellón venue after a level par 72 left him tied 48th.

At Las Colinas Golf and Country Club in Alicante, Banbridge’s Richard Kilpatrick is tied 42d after a level par 71 with Headfort’s Rory McNamara’s two over 73 leaving him near the back of the field, nine behind fellow EPD Tour regular Philipp Meow of Germany.

On the Asian Tour, Muskerry’s Niall Turner crashed to a 76 and fell from ninth to 44th in the Panasonic Open India in New Delhi where two-time Irish PGA champion Niall Kearney carded a second successive 71 to move up to tied 18th, nine shots behind leader Chiragh Kumar of India.

As for the Challenge Tour’s NBO Golf Classic Grand Final in Oman, Rosapenna’s Ruaidhri McGee shot a two under 70 to keep his hopes alive of European Tour promotion on Saturday.

Ranked 27th in the Road to Oman standings, he shares 14th place on four under with one round to go but likely needs a Top-3 finish to make the Top-15 money winners who earn automatic promotion to the European Tour.

McGee is just three shots behind England’s James Robinson and Callum Shinkwin, Dane Joachim B Hansen, Spain’s Nacho Elvira and Swede Jens, who lead by one stroke on seven under par heading into today’s final round.

2015 EUROPEAN TOUR SECOND QUALIFYING STAGE SCHEDULE    NOVEMBER 6-9

Campo de Golf El Saler, Valencia

• T3 Gavin MOYNIHAN The Island GC 68 (-4)
• T17 Chris SELFRIDGE Moyola Park 70 (-2)
• T61 Michael McGEADY Northwest GC 76 (+4)

Las Colinas Golf & Country Club

• T42 Richard KILPATRICK Banbridge GC 71 (E)
• T56 Rory MCNAMARA La Cala Resort 73 (+2)

Panoramica Golf & Sport Resort, Castellón

• 3rd Brian CASEY Headfort GC 65 (-7)
• T13 Jonathan CALDWELL Clandeboye GC 68 (-4)
• T13 Colm CAMPBELL JNR (AM) Warrenpoint 68 (-4)
• T48 Jack HUME (AM) Naas GC 72 (E)

Lumine Golf & Beach Club, Tarragona

• T14 Alan DUNBAR Team Ireland 68 (-3)
• T14 Gary HURLEY West Waterford GC 68 (-3)
• T39 Paul DUNNE Hartl Resort, Bad Griesbach 70 (-1)

Irish champion Tiarnan McLarnon is one of six new faces in the Irish national senior panel. Picture by Pat Cashman

Walker Cup stars Gavin Moynihan, Paul Dunne and Gary Hurley have left the amateur ranks to pursue their careers in the professional game but the same old questions remain with it comes to the make up of the Golfing Union of Ireland's panels for the coming season.

While each and every player must, undoubtedly, have been given due consideration, the good news stories are always tempered by annual omissions that will, one assumes, be explained in the fullness of time.

Stackstown's Richard Bridges has also turned professional while his international team mates Jack Hume and Colm Campbell may follow suit if they are successful at the European Tour Qualifying School this month.

With these loses, it is only natural that the GUI has named six new players to the National Senior Panel. But one wonders why talents that might flourish at the highest level, such as Co Louth's Thomas Mulligan or The Island's Kevin LeBlanc, remain in Boys golf.

And can anyone reasonably explain what Dundalk’s Caolan Rafferty has to do in 2016 to get some recognition following his failure to make the Senior or even the Development panel?

LeBlanc — Ireland’s 11th best player according to the World Amateur Golf Ranking — tied for third with Walker Cup hero-to-be Ewen Ferguson in the Irish Amateur Open in May, with only eventual champion Gavin Moynihan and Brabazon Trophy winner Cormac Sharvin, another Walker Cup star, ahead of him.

Mulligan finished just outside the Top 10 that week but was a member of the young Leinster senior team that clinched an impressive victory in the Interprovincial Matches at Rosapenna.

Both were considered for full international duty but were consigned to the Boys team for the European Boys’ Division Two Championship where they were expected to help Ireland gain immediate promotion to Division One.

If that was indeed the case, it beggars belief that that they were split up as a foursomes partnership and Ireland were beaten 4.5-2.5 by Portugal in the first, decisive match.

Might they be better served at the Senior level, just as Rory McIlroy was when he decided to say goodbye to Boys golf at the age of 15? Perhaps not. 

As for the new national senior panel, Irish Close champion Tiarnan McLarnon from Massereene is one of six new names alongside Rosslare’s Gary Collins, Royal Dublin’s Jeff Hopkins, Waterford’s Eanna Griffin, Naas’ Conor O’Rourke and Portmarnock’s Conor Purcell while Geoff Lenehan returns after being unceremoniously dropped last year.

There’s plenty of room for debate, such as the absence from the Senior Panel of Royal Portrush's Peter Kerr, the runaway winner of the Boys Order of Merit.

What about New Ross' Michael Ryan, winner of the Leinster Boys, runner up in the Irish Boys and  unbeaten in Boys Interprovincials? He made no panels.

Then there's Rafferty, who reached the semi-finals of the “North”, the quarters of the “Close” and was second in strokeplay qualifying for the “West”. He also failed to make the grade.

Either we are way off the mark or there are perfectly sensible reasons for these decisions. 

The Panels (numbered by me for information purposes only)GUI National Panel 2015-16:

1. Colm Campbell (Warrenpoint)
2. Gary Collins (Rosslare)
3. Robin Dawson (Faithlegg)
4. Colin Fairweather (Knock)
5. John Ross Galbraith (Whitehead)
6. Alex Gleeson (Castle)
7. Stuart Grehan (Tullamore)
8. Eanna Griffin (Waterford)
9. Jeff Hopkins (Royal Dublin)
10. Jack Hume (Naas)
11. Geoff Lenehan (Portmarnock)
12. Rowan Lester (Hermitage)
13. Paul McBride (The Island)
14. Dermot McElroy (Ballymena)
15. Tiarnán McLarnon (Massereene)
16. Conor O’Rourke (Naas)
17. Conor Purcell (Portmarnock)
18. Cormac Sharvin (Ardglass).

GUI Development Panel 2015-16

1. Cathal Butler (Kinsale)
2. Peter Kerr (Royal Portrush)
3. Sean Flanagan (Co Sligo)
4. Neil McKinstry (Cairndhu)
5. Devin Morley (Oughterard)
6. Ronan Mullarney (Galway)
7. Jonathan Yates (Naas).

Boys Development Panel 2015-16

1. Sean Desmond (Monkstown)
2. Harry Gillivan (Westport)
3. Ross Kelly (Tuam)
4. Jordan Logue (Hilton Templepatrick)
5. Jack McGarry (Rosslare)
6. Joseph O’Neill (Tralee).

Boys Under-18 National Panel 2015-16

1. Reece Black (Hilton Templepatrick)
2. Owen Crooks (Bushfoot),
3. Alan Fahy (Bray)
4. Matthew Fitzsimons (Ardglass)
5. Jack Hearn (Tramore)
6. Kevin Le Blanc (The Island)
7. Marc McKinstry (Cairndhu)
8. Andrew Mulhall (Waterford Castle)
9. Thomas Mulligan (Co Louth)
10. John Murphy (Kinsale)
11. Mark Power (Kilkenny)
12. Cameron Raymond (Newlands).

Boys Under 16 National Panel 2015-16

1. John Brady (Rosslare) 
2. Sean Carroll (Castle Dargan)
3. Charlie Dawson (Faithlegg)
4. Charlie Denvir (Milltown)
5. Jack Doherty (Carton House)
6. Sean Doyle (Black Bush)
7.  Ian Halpin (Cahir Park)
8. Allan Hill (Roscommon)
9. Odhran Maguire (Slieve Russell)
10. Aaron Marshall (Lisburn)
11. Luke O’Neill (Connemara)
12. Edward Walsh (Mallow).

Alex Gleeson (Castle / UCD) winning the Irish Youths Open & Irish Colleges Invitational Championship earlier this year. .Picture by Pat Cashman

Alex Gleeson beat Stuart Grehan in a three-hole aggregate playoff to retain his Irish Intervarsity Championship at Rosslare.

One behind at the start of play, the UCD player closed with a level par 72 to Grehan’s 73 to tie on seven under par, four shots clear of Grehan’s Maynooth University team mate, Robin Dawson.

A par at the first extra hole put Gleeson in the driving seat and he held on for a slender victory, his fourth of the year.

Grehan had opened with a course record, nine under 63 at the Co Wexford links but the East of South of Ireland champion ran out of steam with a par of 73s.

In the women’s championship, Maynooth University’s Shannon Burke fired a final round, three under 70 to take the title by seven strokes from UCD’s Chloe Ryan (72) on level par with Gemma McCarthy (71) third on 12 over.

Intervarsity Championship, Rosslare (Par 72)Women's Championship

Detailed scores

219 Shannon Burke (MU) 71 78 70

226 Chloe Ryan (UCD) 76 78 72

231 Gemma McCarthy (MU) 75 85 71

234 Rachel Taylor (TCD) 75 81 78

244 Laura Doherty (TCD) 79 80 85, Molly Dowling (MU) 73 89 82

249 Meadhbh Doyle (MU) 76 90 83

251 Maeve Kelly (MU) 84 83 84

264 Ciara Magill (LIT) 84 87 93

DQ/WD Shannen Brown (MU) 73 DQ , Rachel Mc Donnell (UCD) 89 86 WD, Ruth Dillon (UCD) 85 92 WD, Caroline Hewitt (UCD) 94 93 WD

Men's Championship

Detailed scores

209 Alex Gleeson (UCD) 67 70 72, Stuart Grehan (MU) 63 73 73 (Gleeson won by one stroke after three hole aggregate playoff)

213 Robin Dawson (MU) 67 76 70

215 John Hickey (CIT) 71 72 72

217 Jordan Hood (MU) 71 72 74

219 Kyle McCarron (MU) 71 75 73

220 Eugene Smith (MU) 69 77 74

221 Declan Reidy (IT Sligo) 73 75 73

223 Liam Grehan (MU) 71 77 75, Ronan Mullarney (MU) 70 78 75

224 Marc Nolan (IADT) 75 76 73, Ross Dutton (Ulster) 74 75 75, James Sugrue (MU) 70 79 75

225 Sean Flanagan (MU) 75 75 75, Jonathan Yates (UCD) 73 82 70

226 Alastair McQuillan (Ulster) 71 79 76

228 Daniel Holland (DIT) 71 82 75

229 Ross Steedman (MU) 81 77 71, Tristan Coakley (CIT) 75 80 74

231 Ben Murray (UCC) 78 74 79, Gareth Mann (UCD) 75 81 75, Cathal Nolan (NUIG) 70 78 83

232 Colm Hughes (NUIG) 74 81 77, Gary Ward (MU) 71 83 78, James Lindsay (Ulster) 69 88 75

234 Sean Walsh (MU) 75 82 77, Anton Brennan (NUIG) 74 84 76, Bill Murray (UCC) 74 79 81

235 Neil McKinstry (Ulster) 78 78 79

236 Henry Clark (Ulster) 74 80 82, Colin Woodroofe (MU) 73 82 81

237 Jack Walsh (MU) 73 82 82

238 Cian Feeney (MU) 80 82 76, Gavin Fitzmaurice (UCD) 77 82 79, David Brady (MU) 77 81 80, Eoin O'Brien (MU) 76 81 81, Timmy Broderick (UL) 75 79 84, Daniel O'Byrne (TCD) 74 84 80

239 Conor Ringland (TCD) 74 86 79

240 Stefan Greenberg (Ulster) 85 75 80, Ryan McCullough (Ulster) 83 75 82, Jack Mc Donnell (MU) 74 83 83

243 Ted Collins (UCD) 85 81 77

245 Glen Mowat (Ulster) 80 83 82

247 Conor Friel (NUIG) 76 90 81

248 Peter Fleming (NUIG) 80 80 88, Derek Power (WIT) 79 80 89, Conor Stone (MU) 78 86 84

251 Sean Burke (NUIG) 83 91 77, Conor McGlynn (UCD) 79 85 87

253 Andrew Magee (UCD) 83 87 83

258 Dylan Lambe (TCD) 77 90 91

NR/WD/DQ Graham O'Connor (CIT) 98 NR 91, Duane Topham (TCD) 86 86 NR, Edward Sheehan (UCD) 84 NR , Brian Dunne (DKIT) 85 NR , Ronan Molloy (DKIT) 86 NR , Aaron King (DKIT) 79 88 DQ, Jason O'Reilly (WIT) 88 84 DQ, Sam Devey (TCD) 87 87 DQ, Adam McSweeney (CIT) 75 84 WD, John McCarthy (UCD) 81 79 WD, Daniel O'Connor (MU) 80 83 WD, Paul Tobin (UCC) 78 87 WD, Darren O'Brien (UCC) 80 88 WD, Cathal Butler (MU) 73 WD , Craig Melvin (MU) 76 WD
175 David O'Sullivan (CIT) 81 9 

30 of 36 greens for @McIlroyRory but a second round 72 sees him at -4. #HSBCChampions pic.twitter.com/sYgC7Xuwqv

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 6, 2015

Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry had days to forget in the WGC HSBC Champions in China.

McIlroy looked frustrated and admitted to feeling flat as he could only managed a level par 72 and slipped 11 places to 27th on four under, 10 strokes behind leader Kevin Kisner, who has yet to drop a shot in posting rounds of 64 and 66 for a two shot lead over Scot Russell Knox. 

it was even more aggravating for Lowry, who finished with a long range, three-putt bogey six for a three over 75 that leaves him tied 71st in the 78-man field on five over.

“I didn’t play very well today,” McIlroy said after suffering in tougher conditions at Sheshan International. "I was just a bit flat out there. So yeah, left myself a lot to do over the weekend but hopefully I can shoot a couple of good scores and get myself back up the leaderboard.”

Still recovering from food poisoning and the loss of 10lbs, McIlroy admitted he still wasn’t back to full fitness.

“I wouldn’t say I’m 100 per cent,” he said. "I struggled to hit balls today on the range, got a few cramps in the stomach. But I took a couple of tablets and it sort of went away as I went through the round. Still not 100 per cent but I’m getting there.”

Kevin Kisner. Picture: Getty Images

He stil believes he can go low on the Shanghai course and needs to as he leads the Race to Dubai by just 400,000 points from Danny Willett, who is a shot ahead of him on five under despite adding a 74 to his opening 65.

“There definitely is [a low score out there]. You take advantage of the par 5s and a few of the other sort of gettable holes; I've shot 63 around here before. No reason why I can’t go out and shoot a score like that over the weekend and get myself somewhat back in the tournament.

"I played okay. I started off okay, and 2-under through nine I guess, and feeling like I could at least shoot something similar to yesterday and be right up there.

.@McIlroyRory just came within inches of ace no.2! https://t.co/uci6MPu5zd

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 6, 2015

Closest to the pin, featuring Rory and Rickie. #HSBCChampions https://t.co/URmYbTjssR

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 6, 2015

"You know, missed a few chances on the back nine, a couple of loose shots, a couple of bogeys and that was really the story of my day. Bogeyed two of the short par 4s out there and didn’t really take advantage of the par 5s on the back nine to try and salvage some sort of score. So yeah, a bit of a disappointing day.”

The week certainly sums up his year - physical ups and downs to go with good, the bad, the ugly and the sometimes brilliant on the golf course.

“To sum up my year, it’s been a little bit like that,” he said. “I feel I've taken a couple of good steps forward and I'll knock back a bit and try to get going again. 

"That does feel how the year's went for me a little bit, but as I've kept saying, try to end this year on a high note and play well over the weekend here and try and play well in Dubai.

"If I can get a big finish over the next two days and then in Dubai, at least go into next year with some -- I mean, there's a few positives to take. But with the good finish of the season hopefully fresh in my mind, then I can get off to a good start next year, as well.”

At the top of the leaderboard, Kisner opened up a two-shot lead courtesy of a bogey-free six under par round of 66.

Making his debut in the tournament, the American picked up two shots over the last three holes at Sheshan International Golf Club to add to the four birdies he gained on the front nine as he moved to 14 under par and past Knox at the top of the leaderboard.

After gaining a late spot in the field having been seventh reserve, Knox is making the most of his unexpected opportunity, setting the clubhouse target on 12 under par with a flawless seven under par round of 65 before being overtaken by Kisner.

First round leader Branden Grace is a further two shots back in third place on 10 under after his one under 71 with American Patrick Reed (70) and China’s Li Hao-tong (69) sharing fourth place on nine under par.

Kevin Kisner, 66 (-14 total):“It’s beyond my expectations. I had no expectations coming in, so it’s been good. I’m making a lot of putts and that’s fun keeping the round going when I miss a green. I’m looking forward to the weekend.

“It is tough to get it in the fairway. Every hole seems to be a crosswind, especially on that back nine. Trying to get the angle of the fairway with the crosswind is difficult and the rough is up, but when I missed them, I made par and when I hit them I made some birdies. Hopefully I can keep that game plan going this weekend.”Russell Knox, 65 (-12 total)“I played nicely in Malaysia last week and getting in here was obviously a bonus. I found out on Friday via e-mail when they said there was a chance I could get in. My wife was a superstar and she filled out all the forms for us, and while we were playing on Friday, she took all the stuff to the Chinese embassy in Kuala Lumpur and had all the stuff processed. Then we had to wait around until Monday at 2pm to get them back and they gave us our passports. Then we flew here on Tuesday morning here.”Branden Grace, 71 (-10 total)“It was tough out there. The wind was blowing. It’s hard, as most of these holes are tree-lined, so it’s tough to really trust the wind. I think that’s one of the things I struggled with on the back nine. I played pretty well through ten holes and didn’t really make mistakes, but maybe lost a little bit of concentration and then you’re going to let a couple slip out there. But I’m still up there. It would’ve been nice for a couple of putts to go in towards the end, but I think I’m only a few back. It’s still I long weekend ahead.”Complete round two scores (par 72)

130 K Kisner (USA) 64 66,

132 R Knox (Sco) 67 65,

134 B Grace (RSA) 63 71,

135 P Reed (USA) 65 70, L Haotong (Chn) 66 69,

136 B Wiesberger (Aut) 70 66, H Mahan (USA) 68 68, D Johnson (USA) 65 71,

137 B An (Kor) 69 68, L Oosthuizen (RSA) 68 69, M Fitzpatrick (Eng) 68 69, S Hend (Aus) 68 69,

138 R Fisher (Eng) 69 69, S Garcia (Esp) 68 70, H English (USA) 67 71, T Fleetwood (Eng) 67 71, T Olesen (Den) 64 74, T Pieters (Bel) 67 71,

139 D Willett (Eng) 65 74, S Bowditch (Aus) 64 75, Z Xinjun (Chn) 67 72, J Morrison (Eng) 69 70, D Berger (USA) 68 71, K Aphibarnrat (Tha) 69 70, P Casey (Eng) 67 72, S Kjeldsen (Den) 68 71,

140 T Jaidee (Tha) 72 68, M Kaymer (Ger) 69 71, J Spieth (USA) 68 72, C Schwartzel (RSA) 68 72, G Woodland (USA) 69 71, R Lee (Can) 68 72, E Grillo (Arg) 69 71, R Fowler (USA) 68 72, R McIlroy (Nir) 68 72, L Donald (Eng) 71 69,

141 D Zecheng (Chn) 70 71, S Chawrasia (Ind) 69 72, T Aiken (RSA) 70 71, J Thomas (USA) 72 69, M Leishman (Aus) 69 72, L Westwood (Eng) 72 69, H Stenson (Swe) 69 72, T Fisher Jnr (RSA) 67 74, D Howell (Eng) 73 68, B Watson (USA) 68 73,

142 D Lingmerth (Swe) 70 72, D Summerhays (USA) 68 74, R Streb (USA) 73 69,

143 W Ashun (Chn) 69 74, S Piercy (USA) 70 73, I Poulter (Eng) 72 71,

144 H Matsuyama (Jpn) 71 73, A Sullivan (Eng) 70 74, K Na (USA) 72 72, L Wenchong (Chn) 71 73, C Wood (Eng) 68 76, C Smith (Aus) 71 73, M Jones (Aus) 74 70, D Lee (Nzl) 71 73,

145 K Kim (Kor) 74 71, A Lahiri (Ind) 70 75, N Cullen (Aus) 74 71, D Chia (Mas) 72 73, M Jiménez (Esp) 73 72,

146 A Noren (Swe) 70 76, G Chalmers (Aus) 73 73, T Hatton (Eng) 70 76,

147 H Iwata (Jpn) 70 77,

148 C Yi (Chn) 70 78,

149 M Warren (Sco) 75 74, Shane Lowry (Irl) 74 75,

150 A Dodt (Aus) 70 80, C Kirk (USA) 71 79, D Van Tonder (RSA) 77 73, S Kodaira (Jpn) 74 76,

151 A Scott (Aus) 75 76,

154 S Jeffress (Aus) 76 78.

Satueat Grehan. Picture: Pat Cashman

Maynooth's Stuart Grehan added a 73 to his sensational opening 63 to take a one stroke lead over UCD"s Alex Gleeson into the third and final round of the Irish Intervarsity Championship at Rosslare.

As Gleeson added a 70 to his opening 67 to get to seven under, South and East of Ireland champion Grehan leads on eight under par with Maynooth University's Jordan Hood (72) and Robin Dawson (76) and CIT's John Hickey (72) tied for third. 

In the Women's Championship, Maynooth's Shannon Burke carded a five over 78 to lead by five shots on three over par from UCD's Chloe Ryan with Trinity's Rachel Ryan (81) third on 156.

Irish Intervarsity Championship 2015Women

Live scoring

149 Shannon Burke (MU) 71 78

154 Chloe Ryan (UCD) 76 78

156 Rachel Taylor (TCD) 75 81

159 Laura Doherty (TCD) 79 80

160 Gemma McCarthy (MU) 75 85

162 Molly Dowling (MU) 73 89

166 Meadhbh Doyle (MU) 76 90

167 Maeve Kelly (MU) 84 83

171 Ciara Magill (LIT) 84 87

175 Rachel Mc Donnell (UCD) 89 86

177 Ruth Dillon (UCD) 85 92

187 Caroline Hewitt (UCD) 94 93

DQ Shannen Brown (MU) 73 DQ

 Irish Intervarsity Championship, Rosslare (Par 72)Men

Live scoring

136 Stuart Grehan (MU) 63 73

137 Alex Gleeson (UCD) 67 70

143 Jordan Hood (MU) 71 72, John Hickey (CIT) 71 72, Robin Dawson (MU) 67 76

146 Kyle McCarron (MU) 71 75, Eugene Smith (MU) 69 77

148 Declan Reidy (IT Sligo) 73 75, Liam Grehan (MU) 71 77, Cathal Nolan (NUIG) 70 78, Ronan Mullarney (MU) 70 78

149 Ross Dutton (Ulster) 74 75, James Sugrue (MU) 70 79

150 Sean Flanagan (MU) 75 75, Alastair McQuillan (Ulster) 71 79

151 Marc Nolan (IADT) 75 76

152 Ben Murray (UCC) 78 74

153 Bill Murray (UCC) 74 79, Daniel Holland (DIT) 71 82

154 Timmy Broderick (UL) 75 79, Henry Clark (Ulster) 74 80, Gary Ward (MU) 71 83

155 Tristan Coakley (CIT) 75 80, Colm Hughes (NUIG) 74 81, Jonathan Yates (UCD) 73 82, Colin Woodroofe (MU) 73 82, Jack Walsh (MU) 73 82

156 Neil McKinstry (Ulster) 78 78, Gareth Mann (UCD) 75 81

157 Eoin O'Brien (MU) 76 81, Sean Walsh (MU) 75 82, Jack Mc Donnell (MU) 74 83, James Lindsay (Ulster) 69 88

158 Ryan McCullough (Ulster) 83 75, Ross Steedman (MU) 81 77, David Brady (MU) 77 81, Daniel O'Byrne (TCD) 74 84, Anton Brennan (NUIG) 74 84

159 Derek Power (WIT) 79 80, Gavin Fitzmaurice (UCD) 77 82, Adam McSweeney (CIT) 75 84

160 Stefan Greenberg (Ulster) 85 75, John McCarthy (UCD) 81 79, Peter Fleming (NUIG) 80 80, Conor Ringland (TCD) 74 86

162 Cian Feeney (MU) 80 82

163 Glen Mowat (Ulster) 80 83, Daniel O'Connor (MU) 80 83

164 Conor McGlynn (UCD) 79 85, Conor Stone (MU) 78 86

165 Paul Tobin (UCC) 78 87

166 Ted Collins (UCD) 85 81, Conor Friel (NUIG) 76 90

167 Aaron King (DKIT) 79 88, Dylan Lambe (TCD) 77 90

168 Darren O'Brien (UCC) 80 88

170 Andrew Magee (UCD) 83 87

172 Jason O'Reilly (WIT) 88 84, Duane Topham (TCD) 86 86

174 Sam Devey (TCD) 87 87, Sean Burke (NUIG) 83 91

175 David O'Sullivan (CIT) 81 94

NR/WD Graham O'Connor (CIT) 98 NR, Edward Sheehan (UCD) 84 NR, Brian Dunne (DKIT) 85 NR, Ronan Molloy (DKIT) 86 NR, Cathal Butler (MU) 73 WD, Craig Melvin (MU) 76 WD.

Jack Hume, pictured on the final day of the 2015 Home International Matches at Royal Portrush, competes as an amateur at Panoramica Golf & Sport Resort in Castellan. Picture by Pat Cashman

Four of Ireland’s Walker Cup winners face an all-or-nothing week at the Second Stage of the European Tour Qualifying School in Spain from Friday.

With Cormac Sharvin still in college, the quartet of Open Championship hero Paul Dunne and his Great Britain and Ireland team mates Gavin Moynihan, Jack Hume and Gary Hurley make up a third of the 12-strong Irish contingent that will battle some 280 players across four venues for around 60 places in the Final Stage at PGA Catalunya Resort from November 14-19.

The Island’s Moynihan joins Derry’s Mick McGeady and Moyola Park’s Chris Selfridge at El Saler in Valencia while Naas ace Hume tees it up as an amateur at Panoramica Golf and Sport Resort in Castellón with international team mate Colm Campbell Jnr from Warrenpoint, 2007 Walker Cup player Jonny Caldwell and Headfort’s Brian Casey.

“The game is good and it course is nice,” Hume said from Spain, where around 15 player from each venue will join already exempt players such as Peter Lawrie, Kevin Phelan, Damien McGrane or Ruaidhri McGee at the Final Stage. “It will be scoreable if the weather stays good.”

Dunne, who is just back from warm weather practice in Alabama, and his Walker Cup foursomes partner Hurley try their luck at Lumine Golf and Beach Club in Tarragona with former Walker Cup winner and British Amateur champion Alan Dunbar.

"I'm feeling okay," Hurley said. "I've had two good days of preparation and the course is good."

Banbridge’s Richard Kilpatrick and Headfort’s La Cala based Rory McNamara take their chances at Las Colinas Country Club in Alicante hoping to make it to  Final Stage at PGA Catalunya Resort where the leading 25 and ties after six rounds win Category 15 membership for 2016.

2015 EUROPEAN TOUR SECOND QUALIFYING STAGE SCHEDULE    NOVEMBER 6-9

Campo de Golf El Saler, Valencia

1. Michael McGEADY Northwest GC
2. Gavin MOYNIHAN The Island GC
3. Chris SELFRIDGE Moyola Park

Las Colinas Golf & Country Club

1. Richard KILPATRICK Banbridge GC
2. Rory MCNAMARA La Cala Resort

Panoramica Golf & Sport Resort, Castellón

1. Jonathan CALDWELL Clandeboye GC
2. Colm CAMPBELL JNR (AM) Warrenpoint
3. Brian CASEY Headfort GC
4. Jack HUME (AM) Naas GC

Lumine Golf & Beach Club, Tarragona

1. Alan DUNBAR Team Ireland
2. Paul DUNNE Hartl Resort, Bad Griesbach
3. Gary HURLEY West Waterford GC

Joachim B Hansen. Picture: Getty Images

Rosapenna’s Ruaidhri McGee fired an eagle and one birdie in a three under 69 to keep his European Tour card hopes alive in Oman.

The Derry native, 27th in the Road to Oman rankings, moved up to tied 22nd at halfway in the Challenge Tour’s season-ending NBO Golf Classic Grand Final in Muscat

McGee nine shots behind Joachim B Hansen of Denmark and six shots away from the Top-3 finish he needs to win his European Tour card via the Top-15 in the money list.

Hansen retained his overnight lead thanks to five under par 67 but Road to Oman Rankings leader Ricardo Gouveia and Englishman Max Orrin – who won on this course last year – are in close pursuit.

The Dane made six birdies in the Omani sunshine as he built on his opening round of 66 to move up into fourth position in the projected Road to Oman Rankings, having started the week in 17th spot - just outside the top 15 who will win European Tour cards at the end of this week.

The Dane played on The European Tour for the last two seasons after graduating from the Challenge Tour in 2012 and is happy with his form as he hunts a maiden victory at Muscat’s Almouj Golf, The Wave.

“My swing feels very comfortable right now,” said the 25 year old. “There are a few shots going left but I just need to get the rhythm and the arms through it and I’ll be fine.

“I kept the ball in play and hit a lot of greens. I didn’t really putt as well as I did yesterday but it was still pretty good. I’m looking forward to the next few days and hopefully getting that top 15 spot, so it’s going to be fun.

“I definitely feel like I’m back at the level I was at in 2012. My game has developed a lot since that time, but, like I did in Kazakhstan in the first round, when I get the ball in play sometime the putter just holes everything.

“The two years on The European Tour gave me a lot of experience, to see how good the players are and how you have to play. You don’t have to hit the golden shot every time, just stick to your game and hole the putts.

“I just stick to my own game and don’t look at what anybody else is doing but it was good to play with Ricardo. He’s a very steady player and strikes the ball really well. I just have to try get by every day and see where we are at the end.”

Gouveia, whose stellar season has earned his caddie the right to wear a golden bib, reflective of the Portuguese star’s Number One position in the Rankings, credited his putter for his good scoring in the opening rounds.

“I played well again, hit the ball ok,” said the 24 year old. “I hit the ball better yesterday but I holed some important putts today. I’ve only made one bogey in two rounds, which is pretty good, and I just want to keep it going.

“I’m striking the ball well and I’m putting better which makes a lot of difference to my scores. This week I haven’t actually hit much better than the rest of the season but I’ve holed some important putts and that’s why I’ve scored well.

“I check the leaderboards all the time because I like to see where I’m at. There’s always some pressure, because I want to win the event, but just playing well and being confident like I am takes a bit of pressure off.

“Knowing I’ve secured my European Tour card helps a lot as well, but there’s always a bit of pressure, just not too much.”

Behind the leading pair is Max Orrin, the Englishman who took victory when the Challenge Tour visited Oman 12 months ago and who needs a good finish to climb into the top 15 this week.

The 21 year old’s round of 66 was the lowest of the day and leaves him on eight under par overall, in third place on his own, at the midway point.

“I played very solid all day today,” he said. “I don’t think I missed a single green all round and it was much the same as yesterday, just keep trying to hit good shots and keep it in the present. There’s a lot going on which I try not to think about too much, but just concentrate on playing golf.

“It’s tough to put to the back of your mind how much is at stake this week, with those 15 European Tour cards there to be won. As much as you try to ignore it all there’s reminders everywhere and people talking about it.

“I’m trying to push my way up and into the top 15, and each day I get closer to finishing there so it’s definitely something that keeps pushing me on and keeps me focused.”

Bjӧrn Åkesson is one shot further back on seven under par, with Daniel Im, James Robinson and Jeff Winther behind him in a tie for fifth place.

Dominic Foos’ tidy round of 67 has moved the German youngster into the top ten on five under par where he sits alongside Jens Dantorp, Nacho Elvira, Ryan Evans and Daan Huizing.

Scores after round  2

133 J Hansen (Den) 66 67;     
134 R Gouveia (Por) 67 67; 
136 M Orrin (Eng) 70 66; 
137 B Åkesson (Swe) 68 69; 
138 J Winther (Den) 70 68, D Im (USA) 71 67, J Robinson (Eng) 68 70; 
139 J Dantorp (Swe) 69 70, R Evans (Eng) 68 71, D Huizing (Ned) 70 69, D Foos (Ger) 72 67, N Elvira (Esp) 70 69; 
140 P Whiteford (Sco) 73 67, T Linard (Fra) 70 70, R McGowan (Eng) 72 68, S Henry (Sco) 69 71; 
141 J Hahn (USA) 70 71, G Murray (Sco) 70 71, C Shinkwin (Eng) 69 72, R Fox (Nzl) 74 67, R Davies (Wal) 73 68; 
142 M Delpodio (Ita) 70 72, Ruaidhri McGee (Irl) 73 69, B Stone (RSA) 71 71, B Virto Astudillo (Esp) 71 71; 
143 S Gros (Fra) 69 74, R Coles (Eng) 74 69, H Joannes (Bel) 71 72, P Widegren (Swe) 70 73, C Hanson (Eng) 70 73, S Arnold (Aus) 72 71; 
144 S Soderberg (Swe) 74 70, S Jeppesen (Swe) 70 74, T Murray (Eng) 69 75, J Senior (Eng) 74 70; 
145 L Gagli (Ita) 71 74, J Fahrbring (Swe) 73 72; 
146 A Björk (Swe) 73 73, A McArthur (Sco) 75 71, G Boyd (Eng) 74 72; 
147 M Søgaard (Den) 72 75; 
148 C Sordet (Fra) 76 72; 149 J McLeary (Sco) 78 71, S Walker (Eng) 76 73; 
154 H Porteous (RSA) 76 78.

NEW DELHI- INDIA – Niall Turner of Ireland pictured on Thursday November 5, 2015 during round one of the Panasonic Open India at the Delhi Golf Club. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Muskerry’s Niall Turner and Royal Dublin’s Niall Kearney have decided to concentrate on the Asian Tour instead of heading to European Tour Q-School.

And it appears to be paying off with Turner tied for ninth after an opening, three under 69 left him three shots behind leader Mithun Perera of Sri Lanka in the Panasonic Open India at Delhi Golf Club with Kearney tied 26th after a one under 71.

“The conditions were far from ideal,” said Turner, who had four birdies and just one bogey in a 27-putt round. "It rained for most of our round and it was quite gusty out there. I’m delighted with a three-under to start. 

NEW DELHI- INDIA – Niall Turner of Ireland pictured on Thursday November 5, 2015 during round one of the Panasonic Open India at the Delhi Golf Club. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour. (Click image to expand)

"The rain wasn’t that bad and it was still playable. The greens were nice and soft which makes it easier.

"I’ve been playing very well since August. Overall there was just a lot of solid golf today.”

Scoreboard

Two time Irish PGA champion Kearney had two birdies and just one bogey in his 71, using the blade just 27 times.

As for pace-setter Perera, who is searching for a first Asian Tour title, the Sri Lankan fired seven birdies to hold a one-shot advantage over an in-form Chiragh Kumar of India and Sattaya Supupramai of Thailand at the Delhi Golf Club (DGC).

DGC expert Siddikur Rahman of Bangladesh, N. Thangaraja of Sri Lanka, India’s Abhijit Chadha and Thai duo Thaworn Wiratchant, a two-time Asian Tour number one and Thitiphun Chuayprakong shared fourth place on 68s.

Perera, who lost in a three-way play-off in this event last year, turned in 34 highlighted by two opening birdies from close range. He enjoyed a late flourish with birdies on holes 14, 15, 17 and 18 to grab the outright lead.

“It is nice to start with two gimmie birdies. That gave me a lot of confidence,” said Perera, who holed 24 putts today. “I kept the ball in play and that’s the key to a good score here.”

Rory McIlroy shrugged off the stiffness accumulated by 48 hours in bed with food poisoning to open with a four under 68 in the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai.

The world No 3 is five adrift of leader Branden Grace but it looks like a long way back for Offaly's Shane Lowry after he had a nightmarish 37 putts and shot a 74 that leaves him tied 70th in the 78-man field on two over.

"Probably a little better than I was expecting out there to be honest," McIlroy said of a round that began on the back nine with birdies at the 10th and 14th, followed by a sloppy double bogey six at the 16th, where he missed the green by 20 yards and left his pitch short.

The Race to Dubai leader hit back with birdies at the 16th, 18th (two putt), second and third and while he missed several chances, including a three footer for birdie at the eighth, he was happy to finish his round in a 14-day tied for 16th with the likes of Bubba Watson, Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler, Sergio Garcia and Louis Oosthuizen, who is fourth behind him in the money title race.

"The one thing, when I was hitting balls this morning on the range, I mean, I had not been out of bed for basically 48 hours, so I was really stiff," McIlroy said. "Like I was really, really stiff. I needed to loosen up quite a lot. But whenever I got out there, I felt pretty good Thankfully it was a decent start, and now going to try to just get into the tournament."

Last group finishes up on the 9th hole. Johnson 65 McIlroy 68 Fowler 68 #HSBCChampions pic.twitter.com/SOagFgik3D

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 5, 2015

As for his food poisoning scare, McIlroy said: "It happens. Looking forward to a good dinner tonight but hopefully it will stay inside my body.

"I've lost ten pounds since being here. I can't remember the last time I was this light. But hopefully a couple of good meals over the next couple days and rehydrate and I'll be feeling a lot better."

On his round, he said: "Felt like I played okay. Tee-to-green was pretty good. Disappointed I missed three good chances coming in there on the front nine and didn't quite capitalise on those. So it was a score that I thought could have been a lot better but considering the position I was in this time yesterday, it's not a bad start."

McIlroy had to battle to remain hydrated in a humid day, but explained: "Try to keep as much liquid in as possible and take on as much fluid as I can and keep doing those things and hopefully I'll keep feeling better and better as the week goes on."

On his round, he added: "It isn't too bad. Get out a little earlier tomorrow. Hopefully shoot a decent score, and get myself in there for the weekend."

2013 champion @DJohnsonPGA nearly aces the fourth hole! https://t.co/Fikk6yUolX

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 5, 2015

Grace made nine birdies in a bogey free 63 to lead by one stroke from American world No 34 Kevin Kisner, Australian Steve Bowditch and Dane Thorbjorn Olesen.

England's Danny Willett, who is breathing down McIlroy's neck at second in the Race to Dubai, is only two strokes off the lead alongside Patrick Reed and Dustin Johnson thanks to a seven under 65.

"We played pretty nicely last week (in Turkey), didn't lose too much ground and again this week, you have to put yourself somewhere near and see what happens," Willett said of his bid to close the 400,000 point gap on McIlroy with 1.3m points on offer for the winner of each Final Series event.

"I don't think [Rory's] playing next week, I don't know, and look I said, if you can be within touching distance going into Dubai, Dubai could be pretty interesting.

"If you can do it, great. If you don't, it's one of them, you've been up there and it's obviously been nice being up there and trying to compete for it. Yeah it would be nice come Sunday in Dubai."

Dustin Johnson is 31 under par for 5 career rounds at Sheshan GC with an average score of 65.8. #HSBCChampions pic.twitter.com/4fE9fHLX8A

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 5, 2015

Lowry is over 617,476 behind McIlroy in third in the Race to Dubai but while he hit 10 fairways and 15 greens at Sheshan International, his tally of 37 putts said it all.

If he needs inspiration, he can look back to his performance 12 months ago when he began with a 78 and followed up with rounds of 69, 74 and 68 to finish a respectable 34th.

Ever wondered how to spell Fowler, McIlroy & Johnson in Mandarin? Wonder no more.

Joachim B Hansen. Picture: Getty Image

Rosapenna's Ruaidhri McGee faced an uphill battle to win his European Tour card heading into today's second round of the Challenge Tour's NBO Golf Classic Grand Final in Oman.

Needing a top three finish to earn enough cash to make the Top 15 in the Road to Oman rankings who gain promotion to the main tour after this week's season-ending event, the 27th ranked Derry native was tied 31st in the 45 man field after a one over 73 featuring three birdies and four bogeys on The Wave Course at Almouj Golf.

Denmark's Joachim B Hansen launched himself into contention for European Tour graduation as he took the first round lead thanks to a six under par 66 with Road to Oman Rankings leader Ricardo Gouveia lurking ominously a shot back in Muscat.

Live scoring

The European Challenge Tour’s season finale never fails to produce drama and raw emotion by the bucketload and this year’s battle to finish the season top of the Road to Oman Rankings took another intriguing twist.

Portugal’s highest ranked player ever Gouveia has enjoyed an incredibly consistent season, which included a second career victory in Germany, and his determination to be crowned Challenge Tour Number One was once again evident with a bogey-free five under par round of 67.

Björn Åkesson, who is fourth in the Rankings and still in with a shout of leap-frogging Gouveia in the season-long list, was a shot further back on four under par alongside Englishmen Ryan Evans and James Robinson, while Sebastien Gros - second in the Road to Oman - was one of five players on three under par.

It was Hansen who ruled the roost in the searing Omani heat, however, and he admitted that the bizarre coincidence of the only three Danes in the field being put together in the same group - in a draw which was determined by Rankings positions – was a big help as he bounced back from an opening bogey to storm clear.

“That was a perfect opening round,” said the 25 year old, who began the week just two places outside the European Tour promotion places in the Road to Oman, in 17th spot. “It puts me in a good position heading into the next three rounds so I’m really happy.

“It is a pressurised time of the year but I just found something good in my swing recently, it’s working really well ball-striking wise and the putter keeps rolling too.

 “It was fun playing with the guys. We started not great, I think all three of us were nervous definitely, but we all had good rounds in the end so that’s nice.

“You just try and focus on your shots and then when you hit the shot you go and talk a bit, and joke around a bit.

“I really want to get back to The European Tour. I will be making new goals every day and for every round so hopefully it will work.”

Gouveia was delighted with his start and is relishing the opportunity to go toe-to-toe with his other challengers to the Rankings throne in the next three days.

“I played really well today,” said the 24 year old. “I hit the ball well and just had one bad swing all day, but I managed to end up with a four there so it was a good round overall. I holed a few putts too so it was a good first round.

“I’m very excited. It’s going to be a battle until the end and Sebastien played well today, so it will probably come down to the last putt on the 18th.

“I’m looking only at the top of the leaderboard. My goal is just to win this event and I actually looked at a few leaderboards today to see where I was. I just want to keep up with the lead.”

For Åkesson, the relief of having virtually secured his European Tour promotion following a runner-up finish at The Foshan Open two weeks ago kept him stress-free on what is typically a nerve-wracking four days for the majority of the field, and now he wants to go forth and win the Rankings.

“It was a good start, three under through four,” said the 26 year old. “I played well, it was a solid round and I bogeyed eight and eleven but then made three birdies coming in with a few good up and downs, so it was a good result.

“I’m just playing well right now. It felt a bit more relaxing, especially on the first tee, than when I’m usually in a situation – it’s usually a bit tense – but I was relaxed from the beginning so of course it’s a different feeling this morning. But I’m playing well right now so I just need to ride the wave.

“I absolutely want to win the Rankings now. If the wind is right, I’m going to try and go and drive a few par fours tomorrow and try to win this tournament.

“It’s a fun battle, the other guys ahead of me in the Rankings are very good golfers and it will be tough to beat them. I’ll just play my own game now, which is pretty aggressive, and just stick to my gameplan.”

Max Orrin, who won in Oman last year when the Middle Eastern country hosted the penultimate event of the season, was one of ten players tied for 11th place on two under par.

Scores:

66 J Hansen (Den), 

67 R Gouveia (Por), 

68 J Robinson (Eng), B Åkesson (Swe), R Evans (Eng), 

69 S Henry (Sco), C Shinkwin (Eng), T Murray (Eng), J Dantorp (Swe), S Gros (Fra), 

70 G Murray (Sco), D Huizing (Ned), M Delpodio (Ita), M Orrin (Eng), J Winther (Den), S Jeppesen (Swe), C Hanson (Eng), N Elvira (Esp), T Linard (Fra), P Widegren (Swe), J Hahn (USA), 

71 D Im (USA), B Stone (RSA), H Joannes (Bel), L Gagli (Ita), B Virto Astudillo (Esp), 

72 R McGowan (Eng), M Søgaard (Den), D Foos (Ger), S Arnold (Aus), 

73 A Björk (Swe), P Whiteford (Sco), R Davies (Wal), J Fahrbring (Swe), Ruaidhri McGee (Irl), 

74 S Soderberg (Swe), R Coles (Eng), J Senior (Eng), R Fox (Nzl), G Boyd (Eng), 

75 A McArthur (Sco), 

76 C Sordet (Fra), H Porteous (RSA), S Walker (Eng), 

78 J McLeary (Sco).

Padraig Harrington speaking to the Irish Independent at the Web Summit

Pádraig Harrington knows he need a "spectacular", major-winning 2016 if he is to challenge for Olympic gold and win his seventh Ryder Cup cap. 

The 44-year old Dubliner's goals have been the same since he won his third major title at Oakland Hills seven years ago.

In years gone by, his major wins came about as he was competing for wins, week in, week out.

This year he won the Honda Classic, his first PGA Tour victory sine the most recent of his three majors in the 2008 US PGA.

But apart from contending for The Open at St Andrews for an hour on the final day and that playoff Honda Classic win in West Palm Beach, it's been the worst season of his 20-year tour career.

As a result he's 127th in the world and qualified for just two of have four Majors, the Open and the US PGA.

Considering he believes he must win that fourth Grand Slam title to even contemplate qualifying for the Olympic Games or the Ryder Cup,  his goal when here returns after a nine-week winter break is to be ready to hit the ground running and perform at his best when the majors arrive. 

In short, he wants to be peaking continually and while the rugby World Cup reminded him of the dangers of peaking too soon — Fiji after their win over South Africa and Ireland in topping the group, were examples for him — he's got to get his winter programme spot on to achieve his goals in 2016.

 "i'll concentrate on all four Majors," Harrington told the Irish Independent at the Web Summit in Dublin today. "I pretty much need to win one of those to get into the Olympics and Ryder Cup team.

"As much as I want to be in them, they are at the back of my mind now because I can't get into the team unless I do something spectacular."

Now ranked 127th in the world, Harrington plans to undergo surgery on his right knee later this month but if he's to make the Masters, the World Golf Championship and the US Open to increase his chances of making the Olympics or Darren Clarke's European Ryder Cup team, he knows he's got to get his winter preparation spot on.

"This hugely determines how I perform next year," he said. "I can’t afford to get this break wrong."

His right knee is the first thing on the agenda.

He injured it before the US PGA in August and had an MRI early In September which, as he suspected, revealed he had torn his meniscus.

He planned to pre-hab the muscles around his knee to speed up his recovery when he eventually undergoes the procedure.

As for 2016, Harrington added: "I want to plateau for the year. I know that sounds like a long period of time, so maybe a couple of times a year.

"My year is totally judged on how I do in the Majors, no doubt about it, but at the end of the day, peaking can be very dangerous.

"Rugby it shows up more than any other sport. You can go to the recent Rugby World Cup and every team that peaked seemed to lose the game afterwards.

"It's a dangerous thing, to try and get yourself to peak, unless you are an Olympic athlete which comes around every four years.

"Mostly athletes are talking about trying to sustain themselves."

(L-R) Alan Walsh (Course Superintendent), Brendan Mackay (Assistant PGA Professional), Christy O’Connor Jnr, Michael Doherty - (President) and Darren Byrne (PGA Professional) at Moyvalley Hotel & Golf Resort, Co. Kildare. 

Ryder Cup player and international golf course designer Christy O’Connor Jnr has been appointed to upgrade and redevelop Moyvalley Hotel & Golf Resort, Co. Kildare..

O’Connor Jnr spoke at a Kildare Tourism event hosted in Ballyna House at Moyvalley Hotel & Golf Resort last week and gave a brief insight into his course upgrade and development plans.

“Moyvalley Hotel & Golf Resort is truly a hidden gem in North Kildare, only a stone’s throw away from the capital and Dublin International Airport, located just off the M4 Motorway.

"I was really taken aback with my first visit around Moyvalley, I couldn’t believe I hadn’t been introduced to this magnificent venue previously.

"The golf course has the making of a very fine golf course and it will be a pleasant task for me to bring the course in line with the top golf courses in Ireland.

"I am very much looking forward to working closely with the Directors, members and the team here at Moyvalley Hotel & Golf Resort and to welcoming new members on board to this magnificent facility.”

Moyvalley Hotel & Golf Resort is owned by Ms. Rita Shah, and Ms. Jane Tripipatkul and her son Mark McCarthy.

They purchased the property with the late Irish racehorse trainer and businessman Oliver Brady.

Poignantly, the recent “Celebration” event at Moyvalley Hotel & Golf Resort was held in "Memoriam to Oliver Brady and the Shabra Charity Foundation."

Moyvalley Hotel & Golf Resort is undertaking a strategic review and the directors are looking forward to a successful partnership with County Kildare Fáilte and the greater Kildare Tourism network.

Speaking about the news Mr. John Osborne, Chief Executive of County Kildare Fáilte said; "We, at County Kildare Fáilte, are delighted to support this very special event at Moyvalley Hotel & Golf Resort.

"Kildare is a county that features an abundance of hidden gems and authentic heritage, hence a key objective of our strategy is to showcase these incredible locations.

"This celebration event at Moyvalley, reinforces this objective and serves to remind us of the unique heritage that is available on our doorstep.

"We wish the team at the Moyvalley Hotel & Golf Course continued success and look forward to an ongoing collaboration."

Significant investment will be now provided for the upgrade and development of the golf course and works will start with immediate effect.

Further details on Moyvalley Hotel & Golf Resort can be found onwww.moyvalley.com

McIlroy hoping for a quick recovery: https://t.co/VWIEmeX3Ak pic.twitter.com/s8Kv8TcjxG

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 4, 2015

Squeaky bum time was Sir Alex Ferguson’s facetious way of describing those pressure packed moments when everything is on the line.

It’s not quite that way for Rory McIlroy or Jordan Spieth heading into the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai this week though a bout of food poisoning that he believes was caused by a sandwich he ordered in his room, was not the way McIlroy was hoping to begin a crucial week for his Race to Dubai chances.

The reigning European No 1 is going for his third Harry Vardon Trophy in four years with a 399,385 point lead over Danny Willett with Shane Lowry (617,476 behind), Louis Oosthuizen (709,488), Justin Rose (740,471), Branden Grace (1,110,197) his nearest rivals with three events worth 1.3m points each to the winner still remaining.

McIlroy is playing just two of them after the European Tour’s CEO Keith Pelley decided to give him a special exemption because of his debilitating ankle problem.

While he’s never won the HSBC Champions but having finished in the top six in each of his four previous appearances, the world No 3 is hoping he will have shrugged off his illness in time to win for the first time in six months.

“I was thinking of trying to play nine holes but I think that would do me more harm than good,” McIlroy said of his withdrawal from the Pro-Am with stomach cramps.

"It would be nice to see the golf course before tomorrow, but I’ve played it a few times. I didn’t play last year but I know the place well and JP has been out there, so it is better that I rest and get my energy up for tomorrow.

Who wore it best.. @rickiefowler @bubbawatson @henrikstenson pic.twitter.com/jFbLZE0olM

— Jordan Spieth (@JordanSpieth) November 3, 2015

 “I’ve played well here every time I have played here. I’ve not finished outside the top six, so it has been a really, really good tournament for me. I’ve not won it, but I’ve been close. Hopefully if I can get through the first couple of days and play ok, I’ll be feeling a lot better at the weekend and I can make a run at it.

“I played well in Turkey and I felt like my game was in good shape. I was a little bit disappointed with how I played on Sunday – I didn’t really capitalise on any of the chances I gave myself and started hitting my iron shots left, which cost me. 

It was nice to feel in contention again and to feel that buzz and adrenaline of being in contention for a tournament. Hopefully I can get myself in that position again this week, but most importantly I need to get healthy first and if I can do that then concentrate on the golf.”

McIlroy believed he picked up the bug after ordering a club sandwich from his hotel room menu on Tuesday. 

“Maybe I should have gone for something far riskier,” he joked after tweeting a picture of the menu which showed the next item was eels.

He was clearly upset not to be able to swing a club in practice and after mising a key month of the season after picking up an ankle ligament injury playing football, it would be ironic if he lost the Race to Dubai becuse of a sandwich

Who would have thought the eel would be the safer bet!? Hopefully I'll feel better tomorrow

Damien McGrane

Damien McGrane took advantage of the chance to keep his game sharp by winning the gross in the weekly Tuesday Winter Series outing at Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links.

Despite indicating in the run up to the Portugal Masters that he was not going to continue as a full time player, the 2008 Volvo China Open winner is expected to tee it up in the Final Stage of Q-School at PGA Catalunya Resort in Catalonia later this month.

A winning, four under 67 was just what the 44-year old Kells man needed to give his confidence a boost having lost his full playing privileges this year for the first time since winning his European Tour card in 2003.

Carton House's Declan O'Neill (68) and Edenderry Golf Academy's Brian McCormack (70) took the other gross prizes while the nett went to Newlands and Maynooth University's Jake Whelan with a superb 66.

That was one better than home player Eamonn Keane, who had a 67 off six while The Island's Jonathan Quinn, playing off four, claimed third spot with a 69.

Tuesday Winter Series, Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links (Par 71)Nett

1. Jake Whelan (scr) Newlands  66
2. Eamonn Keane (6) The Links Portmarnock 67
3. Jonathan Quinn (4) The Island 69

Gross

1. Damien McGrane (Unattached) 67
2. Declan O’Neill (Carton House) 68
3. Brian McCormack (Edenderry Golf Academy) 70

Paul Dunne watches a pitch shot on the fifth hole during a practice round ahead of the 2015 Walker Cup at Royal Lytham & St. Annes G.C. in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire on Friday, Sept. 11, 2015.  (Copyright USGA/Chris Keane)

Ireland could have a record presence at the Final Stage of the European Tour Qualifying School later this month.

With Peter Lawrie, Ruaidhri McGee, Damien McGrane and Kevin Phelan all exempt into the Final Stage at PGA Catalunya Resort from November 14-19 where the leading 25 and ties after six rounds win Category 15 membership for 2016, it remains to be seen how many of this week’s 12 Second Stage hopefuls survive the cull.

A 16-man presence in Girona would seem unlikely considering a 50 percent success rate at Second Stage is the norm.

But this week's fare is certainly interesting with four members of September’s winning Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team among the 12 Irishmen who tee it up at four Spanish venues from Friday.

The Island’s Gavin Moynihan joins Derry’s Mick McGeady and Moyola Park’s Chris Selfridge at El Saler in  Valencia while Naas’ Jack Hume tees it up as an amateur at Panoramica Golf and Sport Resort in Castellón with international team mate Colm Campbell Jnr from Warrenpoint, 2007 Walker Cup player Jonny Caldwell and Headfort’s Brian Casey

Open championship hero Paul Dunne and his Walker Cup foursomes partner Gary Hurley tee it up at Lumine Golf and Beach Club in Tarragona with former Walker Cup winner and British Amateur champion Alan Dunbar.

Banbridge’s Richard Kilpatrick and Headfort’s La Cala based Rory McNamara take their chances at Las Colinas Country Club in Alicante hoping to make it to the Final Stage at PGA Catalunya Resort from November 14-19    where the leading 25 and ties after six rounds win Category 15 membership for 2016.

McGee has a chance to win his full card via the Challenge Tour Grand Final in Oman this week — he reckons he needs a top three finish in Muscat to avoid a trip to Q-School.

Phelan is already guaranteed a better category in 2016 despite finishing outside the Top 110 in the Race to Dubai. 

The withdrawal of Brooks Koepka from the money list bumped the Waterford man up from Category 17 to Category 16, increasing the number of events he will play next season.

2015 European Tour Second Qualifying Stage Schedule    November 6-9

Campo de Golf El Saler, Valencia

1. Michael McGEADY Northwest GC
2. Gavin MOYNIHAN The Island GC
3. Chris SELFRIDGE Moyola Park

Las Colinas Golf & Country Club

1. Richard KILPATRICK Banbridge GC
2. Rory MCNAMARA La Cala Resort

Panoramica Golf & Sport Resort, Castellón

1. Jonathan CALDWELL Clandeboye GC
2. Colm CAMPBELL JNR (AM) Warrenpoint
3. Brian CASEY Headfort GC
4. Jack HUME (AM) Naas GC

Lumine Golf & Beach Club, Tarragona

1. Alan DUNBAR Team Ireland
2. Paul DUNNE Hartl Resort, Bad Griesbach
3. Gary HURLEY West Waterford GC

THE 18TH AT PORTMARNOCK HOTEL AND GOLF LINKS. PICTURE VIA PORTMARNOCK.COM

Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links has opened its books to new members after completing the first phase of a multi-million euro investment programme.

Extensive work has been carried out on the north Dublin championship golf course and resort, located 15 minutes from Dublin Airport.

It was acquired in June 2014 by Kennedy Wilson Europe Real Estate Plc with the intention of improving the course, hotel and grounds.

The original house dates from 1847 and was the home of the Jameson family of  world- famous Irish whiskey fame until the 1940s.

In 1993, two-time Masters champion Bernhard Langer designed the golf course in conjunction with European Golf Design's Stan Eby and it opened for play in 1995.  

The recent investment programme has resulted in extensive improvements to the course, including:  

• the creation of a short game area
• the revetting the traditional links pot bunkers
• the widening natural pathways  between greens and tees to take full advantage of the coastal location
• the installation of improved irrigation systems

Resort Managing Director, Barry O’Connor, who was previously at Doonbeg and Killeen Castle, said: “Completion of the first phase of investment at Portmarnock has returned the golf links  course to its former high standard as one of Ireland’s leading links courses.

"It is located on the award-winning Velvet Strand, with a host of local amenities, and is just 15 minutes from Dublin airport and 25 minutes from the city centre.  

"In the second phase of this exciting  investment programme, we plan to refurbish the hotel and grounds, making the best of its  unique heritage location.”  

To mark the completion of the first phase, Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links has re-opened  its golf club membership programme for a limited period.

The golf club is affiliated to the Golfing Union of Ireland and ILGU.

For more Information on membership please contact Moira Cassidy, Director of Golf on 01-8666591 or email mcassidy@portmarnock.com

Víctor Dubuisson. Getty Images

Shane Lowry proved that golf is the game played on the six inch course between the ears when he put three average rounds behind to move up from fifth to third in the Race to Dubai after the closing 66 in the Turkish Airlines Open.

The Clara ace straightened out his swing overnight and missed just one green in regulation as he compiled a six under par closing round to snatch eighth place on 15 under par, one stroke behind a misfiring Rory McIlroy (71) and seven adrift of a resurgent champion, Victor Dubuisson.

The emotional, 25-year old Frenchman, who had fallen more than 50 places to 69th in the world  since January and suffered an alarming loss of form, made his third birdie in four holes at the 18th for a 66 and a one-stroke win over South Africa’s Jaco Van Zyl on 22 under par.

“Putting,” Dubuisson said after a two-putt birdie at the 18th proved enough to break out of a 72nd tee tie for the lead with Van Zyl.

After watching Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand missed tiddler on the last that left him third, two behind on 20 under, Dubuisson said: “For me, it's all about the putting.

“My putting was really bad this year and short game, as well. But it's because I didn't really have time to practise a lot. You know, when you start to putt really bad on the greens, then you lose your confidence.”

The 2014 Ryder Cup star could also have mentioned his miraculous pitch and putt par after penalty drop in the trees at the 10th or the chip-in eagle at the 11th that kept him in touch with the leaders.

He had just 105 putt all more, more than a dozen fewer than McIlroy or Lowry, who are not the world’s greatest putters.

“The big thing with my putting this year is it has been under too much pressure because I haven’t played that well,” McDowell said after the 73-75 weekend that ended his European Tour season prematurely.

"By the time you get to the greens, you need it too badly. So you start getting in your own way on the greens.”

McIlroy’s long game misfired yesterday but having started the day just a stroke behind Dubuisson and Van Zyl, he made two early birdies at the third and fourth but then lost his swing and did well to card a one under 71 for a share of sixth on 16 under, six behind the winner.

“I'll be going away from this tournament very disappointed with how I played today,” said McIlroy who started hitting iron shots left and failed to get up and down for pars at the eighth, ninth and 12th.

“But I'm still playing two more events this year and I feel like my game is good enough to give myself two opportunities to win again.”

Under pressure on the greens, McIlroy didn’t putt well either, using the blade 31 times.

But that wasn’t a problem for Lowry, who rediscovered his fade by moving the ball forward in his stance, and gave himself 17 birdie chances yesterday.

He took four of them and chipped in for an eagle three at the fourth to boot, carding a bogey free, six under 66 that could have been several shots better had he converted good birdie chances at the ninth, 15th and 18th, to name just three.

Still, a cheque for €156,449 and nearly 200,000 “Enhanced Points" moved Lowry up to third behind McIlroy in the Race to Dubai with three events remaining to the Ulsterman’s two.

After three average rounds to start, the Lowry of 12 months ago might have lost patience before Sunday but he found his game again yesterday and reaped the rewards.

“I was going out today just to hit the ball well and find something for next week,” said Lowry, who moved the ball forward in his stance and rediscovered his fade, hitting a best of the week, 195-yard five iron to four feet at the ninth only to miss the putt. “I am looking forward to getting to China now.

“I even hit a couple of nice fades today, which was good. I drove the ball really well again. Bogey free 66 on any Sunday, it is the right day to do it.”

McDowell drove poorly and closed with a 33-putt 75 for a share of 37th on five under and now turns his attention to the 2016 season on the PGA Tour with the OHL Classic at Mayakoba in Mexico and the McGladrey Classic in Georgia his last two stops of the year.

“A disappointing weekend, disappointing way to finish what has been a positive six weeks,” McDowell said of his post-US PGA form. ”I am just looking forward for this year to be over to be honest with you.

“I can go in Mexico in two weeks for the Mayakoba and look at that as the start of my ’16 season.”

ENDS

Rory McIlroy believes that Tiger Woods faces "a long road back" after learning that the 14-time major winner underwent his third back surgery in 18 months last Wednesday.

"I saw that last night," said McIlroy after a third successive 67 at the Turkish Airlines Open left him tied for third with Kiradech Aphibarnrat on 15 under par, a stroke behind  leaders Victor Dubuisson and Jaco Van Zyl at the Montgomerie Maxx Royal in Belek.

"I think any time you touch your back it is tough. It looks like it is a long road to recovery for him and I just hope he gets better, not just to play golf but just for everyday life and being able to do everyday things more than anything else."

With Woods set to turn 40 in December, there are doubts that he will ever be the same again.

But while McIlroy refused to write him off completely, he is clearly concerned for a childhood idol who has become a friend.

"That's his third back surgery in just over a year and like someone once said, the best way to avoid your fifth back surgery is not to do the first one. But it's a procedure he needed, he needed it. I just hope he gets better."

Agreeing the Woods' self-assessment as a stubborn person, McIlroy said: "I know. He has that mindset that he can overcome things and he has overcome things before. 

"But as I said. I think it will be a long road ahead."

Asked if he was missed by the players, McIlroy said: "He is missed by the game of golf in general. I am not sure the players miss being beaten by him every week. The game of golf, we were so ducky and so privileged to have him spearheading our sport for so long. 

"To have a global icon like that. I am not saying that the game needs him but he came along at the right time and did a lot for the game."

It was a day that went from a low to a high for McIlroy, who three putted the third and then followed birdies at the fourth and sixth with a frustrating three putt at the 10th.

He threw his putter at his bag in frustration there but got his round going again with a pitch and putt birdie at the 11th followed by a spectacular eagle three at the 13th and birdies at the par-three 14th, and par-five 18th.

"I don't know why. I just felt very lethargic out there today," Mcilroy said. "Couldn't really get any energy. To finish the way I did was very pleasing.  I didn't get off to a great start and I needed to dig in deep and finish the round off well, which I did."

The spark was the eagle own the 13th, where he hit a towering four iron over trees and one of the floodlight pylons that hit the upslope short of the tight front pin and trickled up to just over a yard short of the hole.

"No, I couldn't [see the pin]," he said of his 229-yard four-iron. "I picked a line somewhere. Had to go a little bit right of one of the floodlights. So just had to make sure I missed the floodlight and I knew it would be an okay shot. But yeah, I couldn't see the pin. I was lucky it landed into the upslope and then just trundled on, I think. I didn't see it. But I can imagine that's the only way I can get it to stop there.

"That second shot in there was probably partly luck and partly a good shot. It's tough to stop it where that pin is, but to be able to make three there I thought was a big bonus. And to birdie the hole afterwards was nice, as well. So that definitely turned the day around a bit."

After a two on the 14th got him to within a couple of shots of the lead, he hit the 18th in two having struggled for his par five on the first two days and almost holed a 50 footer for birdie.

"It's nice not to hit it in a bush or not hit it somewhere where you have to hit it left-handed," he said of his troubles on Friday and Thursday respectively.

"I thought for a second it was going left again and thankfully it just caught the right side of the slope for me. It was nice to make four at the last and nice to get another shot towards the lead. I'm not sure what the lead is going to be at the end of the day, but yeah, I won't be too far away going into tomorrow.

"I mean, I'll go out there with the mind-set that I need to beat [20 under] to have a chance to win. So, yeah, the 67s I've shot this week have been a little different and I feel like I've played within myself for all of them. So I feel there's a low round out there for me and hopefully it's tomorrow."

Asked if he turned frustration into motivation with that putter throw,  he said: "I did, yeah. I felt like today -- it wasn't great start for me. I didn't get off to the start that I wanted to. I struggled to get any sort of energy going. I don't know, the bogey on 10 was a bit of -- yeah, that was good to turn frustration into motivation and to play well those next few holes. Definitely the eagle on 3 was the spark that I needed to sort of get myself up the leaderboard."

On his putting, he said: "I felt like I missed some; I held some. It was okay. Some of the pin positions out there were very tricky, like double-breakers.

"Sometimes hard to commit to a read just because it was going one way at the start and then going another way at the end, and it was hard to really pick that one spot that you wanted to roll it over.

"But for the most part, I felt like I've putted okay. You have to putt decent to be 15-under par after three rounds. But missed a couple that I probably shouldn't have today, but I'm not going to let that get to me.

"I'm seeing putts go in the hole. At least I'm holing some. So it's not like I'm missing everything that I look at out there."

It was a frustrating day at the office for Shane Lowry and Graeme McDowell though the Clara man is just seven shots off the lead on tied 12th on nine under,

As McDowell slipped to tied 16th on eight under after a disappointing 73, Lowry moved up seven place to tied 12th on nine under.

The world No 17 was playing alongside Byeong Hun An and after watching the Korean fire a 65 to get to tied fifth on 13 under and was understandably frustrated to shoot no better than 69 having followed a birdie at the third with an eagle three at the fourth following a six iron to 20 feet.

The problem was the short fifth, where he made double after dumping his tee shot in the lake right of the green.

"That double bogey just killed my momentum," Lowry said.  "I had 220 trying to hit a 5-iron into the left and went ahead of it and didn’t catch it, done everything wrong, into the water and made double."

With Ian Poulter insisting he'd end up hanging from a tree if he doesn’t find a way to play the fifth, Lowry was also counting the cost of previous disasters there.

"I have missed the green both days and got up and down and that’s the way to play it," he said. "I mean, you are trying to hit it in the fat part of the green. But for me who favours a draw at the minute it is tough to hit that shot. It sets up for a guy that cuts it cuts if off the left trap, and that’s just the way it is.

"It is the hardest hole on the course by far. It’s a horrible hole, because the green kind of sits like that (slopes from front to back), you pitch the middle of the green, it goes over the back. It would be a great hole if it was 20 yards shorter and they tucked the pin up the right.

"It’s a hard hole, just one of those. Yesterday 230 yards, today 220 yards. All I wanted to do was make par and you’d be happy enough."

As for the rest of his round, he was left to rue bogeys at the ninth and 14th and a failure to get up and down for birdie  from just off the edge of the par-five 18th.

But he was also pleased to make an eagle and five birdies on an average day.

"It was very disappointing not to get that one on the last," he said. "I’d a horrible lie with my third shot off the green. I was afraid of chipping it down the far side of the green (over the spine) and that’s why I came up a bit short.  

"I don’t feel like I played well. I don’t feel like I am playing well. My confidence is not great, to be in the position I am in not playing great is good, it’s positive and I am going to go again hit a few balls and see if I can find something."

Victory might be beyond him but Lowry is still in with a chance of a huge cheque.

"I think I am a bit too far behind," he said. "You can shoot nine-under, 10 under if you go mad. It is all about trying to get off to a good start and to keep it."

Michael Hoey is tied 69th on three over after a 72 with Darren Clarke two strokes further back after 75.