Fresh from a week off, the Challenge Tour returns to France on Thursday with Cormac Sharvin hoping to strengthen his grip on a European Tour card for next season.
The 7,500 ranking points gained for Sharvin’s latest top-5 finish in Portugal have given his hopes of securing a top-15 place on the Road to Mallorca standings a significant boost.
The Ardglass professional sits comfortably in sixth spot having earned €84,674 from 13 events played on the circuit this year.
That total is remarkably shy of the €85,655 he won for his share of 15th at this year’s Irish Open at Lahinch but it’s just another reason why Main Tour graduation is so important to these fledgling pros.
Last year at Mallemort, Sharvin opened with a five-over par 77 and although he bounced back with a three-under par 69, he missed the halfway cut in France by three strokes.
Yet, the 26-year old looks a different beast this term having captured a consistency that has seen him miss just one Challenge Tour cut from his last 10 starts.
With just three full-field events to go this season, including this week and the Stone Irish Challenge at Headfort on October 10, Sharvin’s spot inside the coveted top-15 is looking increasingly secure ahead of the Tour’s Far East swing and before its Grand Final in Mallorca on November 7.
Hoping to join in the fun will be Tramore’s Robin Dawson who starts this week from 87th on the Road to Mallorca standings with only the top-45 making it to the Tour Championship at Alcanada. West Waterford’s Gary Hurley at 240th is also in the field.
Irish tee times (Thursday)
11.30am – Gary Hurley
11.40am – Cormac Sharvin
13.10pm – Robin Dawson
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