Ireland’s competing trio at the cauldron of European Tour Qualifying School survived the first cut and now face 36-holes to achieve their dreams at Final Stage in Spain.
Gavin Moynihan continues to lead the Irish charge after he coasted through in 29thplace amongst the 70 players and ties who live to fight another day.
The Mount Juliet professional negotiated the Lakes Course in a one-under-par round of 71 to advance his four round total to 11-under-par.
Cormac Sharvin was the big mover when it mattered most from an Irish point of view. The Ardglass professional powered his way to a four-under-par 68, his five birdies taking him 20 places up the leaderboard to a share of 47thspot on eight-under-par.
Two days ago the 26-year-old sat in 132ndplace on one-over-par, but after a third round of 66 and a fourth round of 68, he safely made it through to the final two days after moving up 85 places in the standings.
“I felt a bit of pressure going out there after finishing 71st in the Challenge Tour Rankings, so that secured my status for next year,” reflected Sharvin.
“I’m happy after the start I made; I was one over after two rounds and I had ten under in my head for the next two rounds. With a little bit of wind over the last two days, to shoot nine under was pretty nice.
“I’m 47that the minute so just over 20 spots away from a card. A good two days and who knows, anything can happen in this game as we all know. It will be nice to press on now, post two low scores and see where that takes me over the next two days.”
Meanwhile Robin Dawson made it three from three as he posted a brave two-under-par 70 to scrape into the last two days on the number at minus-six.
The Tramore rookie stands to learn so much from the Final Stage examination no matter what happens, but he’ll have eyes on the big prize, despite lingering at the foot of the board in a share of 69thposition.
The pacesetter continues to be Daniel Gavins who carded a two-under-par 69 to maintain his position at the top of the leaderboard as the 156-player field was reduced to 77 following the fourth round.
With 36 holes to go in Tarragona, it’s England’s Gavins who leads the way after four days of exceptional scoring where he has carded rounds of 62-69-66-69 to sit one ahead of France’s Clément Sordet in pole position.
As the wind picked up in Tarragona conditions proved to be far more difficult for the leading players, but there were still birdies to be had with the likes of South Africa’s Bryce Easton (64), France’s Romain Langasque (66) and the United States’ Kurt Kitayama (66), all posting low scores to make significant moves up the leaderboard.
Today all eyes were on the cut line, though, which fell at six-under-par. Three-time European Tour winner Marc Warren birdied his final three holes to make the mark by three shots on nine under par, while Germany’s Philipp Mejow and Canada’s Aaron Cockerill signed for rounds of 65 and 66 respectively to narrowly make the grade.
England’s Laurie Canter and France’s Clément Berardo left it the latest, with Canter making a birdie on the 18thto make the cut on the number – Berardo went one better by making the cut on the number with a closing eagle.
The remaining 77 players now face two more rounds on the Lakes Course at Lumine Golf Club with the top 25 and ties earning European Tour cards at the end of the week.
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