West Waterford’s Gary Hurley gave his Challenge Tour Grand Final hopes a shot in the arm as he rolled in a whopping ten birdies to climb to within one shot of the lead after the opening day of the Hainan Open.
Hurley carded a seven-under 65 and is in a share of sixth position, but crucially is projected to move from 41st in the Road to Mallorca Rankings to 35th with the top-45 progressing to the Grand Final on October 31st.
The 31-year-old started well with four birdies in his first seven holes but what makes his ten birdies even more remarkable is that he recovered from a triple bogey on the par-3 8th.
The 2015 Walker Cup player came roaring back with three birdies in a row from the 10th before adding a brace on 15 and 16. He rolled in a birdie on the par-5 18th to come home in 30 and complete a six-under back nine.
Meanwhile, Conor Purcell is two shots further back on five-under after a round of 67 which has him projected to move from 12th to 10th in the Road to Mallorca Rankings with the top-20 securing DP World Tour cards at the end of the campaign.
The 27-year-old completed an uneventful front nine with two birdies and a bogey before four birdies in five holes to start his back nine propelled him to within three of the lead.
Jonathan Caldwell needs two good weeks to force his way into the Grand Final and he has work to do from two-under after an opening 70.
The Clandeboye man is currently 72nd in the Road to Mallorca Rankings.
Niklas Lemke, Wilco Nienaber, Gregory Foo, Lloyd Jefferson Go and JC Ritchie share the lead on eight-under-par.
Scoring HERE
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