Gary Hurley’s bid for a second Alps Tour win of the season sees him head into the final round of the Roma Alps Open just three shots off leader Julien Paltrinieri after a sensational second round.
The Irishman, who plays his golf out of Saadiyat Beach in Abu Dhabi, carded nine birdies in a bogey-free 63 at Golf Club Parco de’ Medici to soar up the leaderboard and into solo fourth at 11-under-par.
That leaves him three back of Italian amateur Paltrinieri, who has dazzled all week and continued to do so on day two with seven birdies and one bogey in a six-under 66 to set the target at 14-under-par.
He’s closely followed by Spain’s Alex Esmatges, the first round leader who could only manage a four-under 68 in his second round to sit one back at 13-under, while Italy’s Gregorio de Leo starts the final round two adrift and could earn automatic promotion to the Challenge Tour with his third victory of the season.
Then comes Hurley, who could pick up another big result in his own bid for promotion to the Challenge Tour if he can win, the Irishman currently ninth in the Order of Merit with only the top-five going up at the end of the season.
Further down the leaderboard, Paul McBride racked up five birdies in six holes on the back nine on his way to a four-under 68 to make the cut at six-under-par, a score matched by Michael Young who also made it in for the final round at four-under-par.
Also at four-under is Naas’ Jonathan Yates, who signed for his second consecutive 70 to get himself into the last day as well.
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