Gavin Moynihan fired a three-under par round of 69 to move into a tie for 21st spot in the battle for 25 European Tour cards at Final Stage Qualifying School in Spain.
Over the first four rounds of Final Stage at Lumine, all 156 competitors play two rounds on each of the Lakes Course and the Hills Course before a cut will reduce the field to the top 70 players and ties, who will contest the final two rounds on the Lakes Course
Moynihan was on the Hills Course on Saturday and he made it look easy for a time, racing to the turn in 31 with five birdies on his card.
He picked up another at the first, his 10th but just as it looked like he was going to consolidate his place inside the top-10 on the leaderboard, three bogeys followed.
It meant the Mount Juliet touring pro had to settle for a 69 but it was an effort that saw him sweep 28 places up the leaderboard and into a share of 21st at four-under par.
That’s the best the Irish travelling quintet could muster after 36-holes with Clandeboye’s Jonathan Caldwell also in good shape just one shot further adrift after signing for a 69 of his own, this time on the Lakes Course.
Tramore’s Robin Dawson has also laid a solid foundation after two rounds and added an even par effort on the Lakes Course on Saturday to his two-under par opening salvo to be sharing 53rd heading into day three.
Royal Dublin’s Kearney, also playing on the Lakes Course, traded three bogeys and two birdies for a one-over par 73 that saw him drop to even par for the tournament, just inside the top-80 on the board.
Ballymoney’s Michael Hoey suffered on day two, however, with his place in jeopardy after slumping to a seven-over par 79 on the Hills Course to drop near the foot of the table at seven-over par.
Given the format this week, not all hope is lost for the five-time European Tour winner. While the top 25 players and ties will receive European Tour playing privileges, the rest of the field who makes the four-round cut will receive full playing rights on the European Challenge Tour next year so anything can happen ahead of the 72-hole cut.
Full scoring HERE
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