Golf – Qualifying School:It was a day of mixed fortunes for the Irish trio left battling it out for their tour cards in Spain where Simon Thornton forced his way into an automatic spot, while Gary Murphy put himself back in contention and Niall Kearney dropped off the pace.
When careers are on the line there can be fewer more pressurised situations than the European Tour’s gruelling six-round Qualifying School. Forget being in contention on the back nine of a major, this is the coalface of professional golf in Europe where dreams are won and lost.
As it stands - with one round to go - all three Irishmen who made yesterday's cull to 75 players still have a chance of securing their playing rights on the European Tour next season.
Thornton, who has competed on the Challenge Tour this season, is currently the best-placed after his impressive five-under par 67 moved the Co Down professional up to nine-under and in a tie for 25th. Only the top 30 and ties will win their tour cards after tomorrow's final round.
The Newcastle resident, starting on the back nine, stormed out of the blocks as the former Irish PGA order of merit winner recorded no less than five birdies to turn in five-under 31. It's that sort of flawless inward half that players around him would pay good money for when so much is at stake.
The front nine was a different story, however, for although he opened with a birdie at the second, his 11th, a double-bogey at the par-three fifth was followed by a bogey at the next. That said the 32-year-old rallied with two birdies in the next three to undo the damage.
Murphy shot a fifth round 69 to get to seven-under and within touching distance of the magical top 30. The Kilkenny professional, who has amassed over €2million in career earnings on the main tour, is tied 34th.
For all his heroics up to this point, perhaps Kearney grasped the enormity of the prize at stake as the 21-year-old, making his debut as a professional, lost ground with today's two-over 74.
This year's Brabazon Trophy winner and Walker Cup player dropped back to five-under, but at tied 50th he was still in a position to challenge in the final round.
England's Simon Khan has led the way at PGA Catalyuna in Girona all week and is virtually certain to regain his tour card as he holds a six-shot lead after today's 70 left him on 22-under. His compatriot Sam Hutsby is next on 16-under after shooting 66 while Clodomiro Carranza (67) from Argentina is third on 15-under.
Irish scores:
347— S Thornton 67 75 69 69 67
349— G Murphy 69 67 70 74 69
351— N Kearney 72 68 68 69 74
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