Mount Juliet’s Luke Donnelly exploded into life with a course-record 10-under-par round of 62 to reignite his hopes of qualifying for the Second Stage of Q-School
The 21-year-old heads into the final round today comfortably inside the top-19 and ties that advance to next stage after blasting his way to an eagle and ten birdies at The Players Club in Bristol.
Donnelly’s recovery has been an incredible one given he started his qualifying campaign with a five-over round of 77 (he was five-over after two holes!) before steadying the ship with a 71 in round two. But yesterday’s haul has well and truly stuck him in the driver’s seat as he bolted 26 places up the leaderboard to outright 4th on six-under, just four strokes off the lead.
Donnelly has compatriot Neil O’Briain mounting a challenge of his own just behind him with the Old Conna professional alone in 5th spot on four-under-par. Last year’s Sunshine Tour Rookie of the Year only managed an even par effort yesterday despite making five birdies and he’ll be hoping to cut out the mistakes today to ensure he advances to stage two.
North West’s Brian McElhinney finds himself in a share of 30th with work to do on seven-over despite firing a much improved 70 in round three while Headort’s Joe Dillon posted a disappointing 76 to be one shot further back and four off the top-20.
Unfortunately there was no good news for West Cliff’s Brendan McCarroll who missed the final day cut at plus-20.
Elsewhere, in Germany, Evolve Golf’s Michael McGeady returned a solid 72 to share 23rd spot alongside Glasson’s Colm Moriarty on two-under. Moriarty fired his second successive 70 with the pair about three back from where they’d want to be in order to progress from stage one with a round to go in Fleesensee.
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