Ronan Mullarney suffered his first major blot on the copybook but remains right in the hunt at European Tour Qualifying School in Bom Sucesso.
The Galway amateur, who picked up his first home championship this summer at the Irish Close Championship at Ballybunion, chalked up a derailing quadruple-bogey ‘8’ at the par-4 18th, his ninth hole of the day to make the turn in three-over par.
Two more bogeys followed for the 24-year old either side of a penultimate hole birdie and having completed 36-holes of his first ever Q-School assessment, Mullarney finds himself in a share of 29th at two-over par heading into moving day.
With the top 20 players likely to go through, Mullarney is only one-shot off that pace and still in good shape, however his compatriot, West Cliff’s Brendan McCarroll will need something special on Friday to ensure he’s in the mix to advance to Stage Two in November.
The 33-year old is now outside the top-50 after adding a three-over par 75, a round that included three double bogeys and three birdies, to his opening 74. It means McCarroll is well off the pace at five-over par.
Meanwhile in France, Killiney amateur Eoin Leonard managed an improved performance but his one-over par round of 72 leaves him at four-over par and outside the top-50.
With roughly 20 players qualifying from each venue, the 22-year old is trailing five shots behind the current required standard at Golf d’Hardelot with his Stage Two ambitions just about alive.
A man who looked dead and buried on Thursday, Stephen Grant has given himself a chance, however after improving an outstanding 12 shots on his opening round of 80.
The former Shamrock Rovers footballer found four birdies and an eagle but will need more of the same if he’s to have any hope of Stage Two progression.
Full Scoring Italy HERE
Full Scoring France HERE
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