Paul Dunne and Niall Kearney successfully progressed through the pre-qualification stage for next week’s Final Stage of the Asian Tour Qualifying School in Thailand.
Dunne, playing on the Grand Prix Course in Kanchanaburi, shot a closing three-under 68 to finish in tied-sixth place with 17 players going on to take their spots in the Final Stage at Lake View Resort and Golf Club in Hua Hin from December 17-21.
Greystones man Dunne carded four birdies and a bogey on his opening nine holes leaving him in position to play conservatively on the back, safe in the knowledge that anything around level par would be enough to secure his advancement.
And he did exactly that, trading a solitary bogey on the 12th with a birdie on 18, leaving him three shots back of winner Ivan Ramirez of Colombia, but ensuring it was job done as he looks to rebuild his career after a steep drop off in form having become a DP World Tour winner when besting Rory McIlroy at the 2017 British Masters.
Dubliner Kearney’s passage wasn’t quite as straightforward at Springfield Royal Country Club in Cha-Am. Starting the final round at -5 and projected to qualify on the number, he got off to a hot start with birdies on his second and third holes, but back-to-back bogeys on eight and nine left him with work to do on the back side.
Birdies at 11 and 16 got his head back above water, and two closing pars and a nervous wait later, it was confirmed that his -7 tally would just be enough and he joins Dunne for the last exam.
Declan Kenny, who was also competing at Grand Prix Golf Club, shot a bogey-free 67 but finished five shots behind Dunne, ending at five-under and Kevin Phelan from Waterford posted a 74, finishing further behind.
The Final Stage will take place at Lake View Resort and Golf Club in Hua Hin from December 17 to 21, where Dunne and Kearney will compete alongside 240 other players. The field will be reduced to 140 after 36 holes, with the top 70 and ties advancing to the final round. Only the top 35 players after 90 holes will earn tour cards, with any ties for 35th place to be resolved by a hole-by-hole playoff.
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