Paul McBride kept his faint hopes of earning a Challenge Tour card alive with a bogey-free opening round of 66 at the Alps Tour Grand Final.
McBride is in a three-way tie for second place on six-under-par, three shots behind the aptly named Frenchman Augustin Hole at Asolo Golf Club.
The 2017 Walker Cup player carded birdies on the fourth, sixth, tenth, twelfth, fifteenth and seventeenth to storm into the mix, knowing he needs a win and a prayer to join compatriot Ronan Mullarney inside the top-5 on the Order of Merit and secure a Challenge Tour card for next year.
The Island golfer has been in good form recently, coming through the First Stage of DP World Tour Q-School, so all options are open for him.
“I’m 17th in the Order of Merit and I would need a win to finish inside the top ten,” said McBride.
“Mathematically I could finish inside the top five but I would need a lot to go my way. I would just be going out there trying to play as much as I can and see where it gets me.
“You just can’t really draw any plans up until your season is done and you can reassess and see what you can play and what Q School has given you, status wise.
“I’m not really thinking too much ahead in terms of golf for 2024, it could be playing Alps Tour next year again or it could be playing DP World Tour. You just can’t really draw anything up yet.”
On two-under-par and a share of eight place is Paul Murphy after a 70 while Alps Tour Order of Merit leader Mullarney has left the door open for the chasing pack after slumping to a two-over 74 to languish in 37th place.
Scoring HERE
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