David Carey took a huge step towards qualifying for the Final Stage of PGA Tour Qualifying School after he fired a scintillating second round of 64 in Alabama.
Despite bogeying his last two holes, Carey’s eight-under-par round helped him into the lead at the halfway stage on eleven-under.
Dubbed ‘Mr 57’ for his exploits on the Alps Tour where he carded a sensational sub 60 round, he looked on course to shoot 59 when he fired a magnificent ten birdies in fifteen holes.
The Castleknock man roared out of the traps with three successive birdies from the second before reeling off five in a row in a sensational run between the 8th and 12th.
He seemed unstoppable when he added another brace of birdies on 14 and 15 but he came back down to earth with bogeys on 17 and 18 to lead the way by the minimum but crucially he is seven shots inside the top-14 and ties which would advance to the final stage.
Carey has endured some injury and health issues which have curtailed his 2024 and 2025 seasons. However, should he finish top of the second qualifying stage he could kickstart his career.
All stage winners provided they do not improve their status at the Final Stage will earn Korn Ferry Tour membership for 2026.
Even if Carey can’t secure the win this week but qualifies for the Final Stage held from December 11-14 he could win one of the five PGA Tour cards available but a top-40 finish would secure Korn Ferry status.
Carey has tasted the big occasion before, he made an appearance at the 2022 open Championship while in 2023 he qualified for the PGA Tour’s Valero Texas Open and the RBC Canadian Open, but missed both cuts.
If the Dubliner can qualify for the final stage over the next two rounds he will guarantee himself at least PGA Tour Americas status for next year.
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