There are lies and damned statistics but the numbers produced by the European Tour boffins give Padraig Harrington the edge over Rory McIlroy this year.

Yes, McIlroy topped the stroke average and almost won the inaugural Race to Dubai while Harrington floundered in swing tinkering hell for half the season before exploding into life in August.

But if you add together their ranking in the nine Genworth Financial Statistics categories, Harrington finished an average of six places ahead of McIlroy.

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Niall Kearney is a towering six feet four inches but he looked 10 feet tall as he fired a brilliant, three under par 69 on the stunning Stadium Course to stride like a colossus in the last two rounds of the 108-hole European Tour Qualifying School finals at PGA Golf de Catalunya.

Just 10 weeks after he impressed in the Walker Cup on US soil, the 21-year old from Royal Dublin continued his remarkably poised professional debut to share 24th place on seven under par with the top 30 and ties earning tour cards tomorrow evening.

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Jonathan Caldwell kept his hopes alive of winning back his European Tour card after a brave third round 68 catapulted him above the cut line at the Qualifying School finals in Spain.

The 25-year old former Walker Cup player from Clandeboye fired six birdies and two bogeys in a four under par effort on the terrifying Stadium Course at PGA Golf de Catalunya to leap from 96th into a tie for 61st on two under par.

England’s Simon Khan and Charlie Ford lead by a stroke from compatriot Jamie Elson on 14-under par with the top 70 and ties making the cut today and the top 30 and ties earning tour cards after six rounds.

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Kilkenny’s Gary Murphy took another small step towards regaining his card and Niall Kearney showed his huge potential on a wind-lashed second day of the European Tour Qualifying School finals at PGA Golf Catalunya.

A cold southwest wind gusting over 30 mph sent scores scoring at the stunning 36-hole Catalan complex just outside Girona but Murphy was up to the challenge as he leapt into a share of seventh place on six under par.

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Colm Moriarty crafted an immaculate five under par 65 to spearhead Ireland’s challenge in the first round of the marathon European Tour Qualifying School finals at PGA Golf de Catalunya.

The 30-year old midlander carded five birdies in a fine ball-striking effort on the easier Tour Course but amazingly still found himself sharing seventh place behind Julien Guerrier of France, who blasted 11 birdies in a sensational 10-under par 60 on the same track to top the leaderboard by four strokes.

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Philip Walton once described it as being “like a prison sentence” but for triple major winner Padraig Harrington, the European Tour Qualifying School is a place of horror. In fact, it's the only place he has ever seen a ghost.

The annual, six-round nightmare pits 156 players - a mixture of young dreamers and old battle-hardened old hands - in a scramble for 30 tour cards. It is a nerve-shredding race where the only fans are their relatives and friends, the golfing equivalent of a slow death that leaves lifelong scars.

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It wasn’t quite the way one wag described it: white belt brigade meets wizened pro. But the generation gap was visible at PGA Golf de Catalunya as two Irishmen crossed paths on the eve the dreaded European Tour Qualifying School finals.

While 21-year-old Niall Kearney will make his professional debut today, 37-year-old Kilkenny man Gary Murphy has earned over €2 million from 257 European Tour starts over the past decade. 

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An impressive Niall Kearney fired eight birdies in a superb, six under par 66 to clinch his place in this week's European Tour Qualifying School finals.

The 21-year old Walker Cup player was one of five Irishmen to come through stage two in Spain, finishing two shots behind Sweden’s Fredrik Ohlsson in brilliant share of second place on 12 under par 276 at Costa Ballena near Cadiz.

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Challenge Tour trio Colm Moriarty, Simon Thornton and Jonathan Caldwell remained on course to make next week's final stage of the European Tour Qualifying School in Spain.

Almost 300 players are battling for 74 places in the finals at PGA Golf Catalunya at four second stage venues but nine of Ireland's 12 hopefuls are in danger of missing out.

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Seven of Ireland’s 12 challengers broke par at Stage Two of the European Tour Qualifying School with four of them inside the qualifying places after the opening day.

Simon ThorntonA total of 304 players are competing at four venues in Spain with a total of 74 spots up for grabs in next week's Final Qualifying Stage at PGA Golf Catalunya where the top 30 and ties after six rounds will earn full tour cards.

Simon Thornton (68) and Colm Moriarty (69) are inside the top 18 at Sherry Golf but while Mick McGeady (71) is just two shots outside the magic number, David Higgins (72) and Eddie Barr (74) have more work to do.

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Two bogeys in his last three holes cost Simon Thornton a place in next week's Challenge Tour Grand Final.

Third win of the season for MolinariThe former Royal County Down assistant bogeyed the 16th and 18th at Olgiata to finish tied for sixth behind winner Edoardo Molinari in the Italian Federation Cup.

As a result he finished up €3,658 short of the top 45 in the rankings who qualified for the season ending championship in southern Italy.

Ranked 64th in the money list starting the week, Thornton closed with a one under par 71 to share sixth place with Benjamin Herbert of France and earn €5,400.

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Simon Thornton produced hot finish in Rome to remain on track for next week’s Challenge Tour Grand Final.

Edoardo MolinariThe overnight leader birdied three of his last four holes to post a three under par 69 and trail rankings leader and home favourite Edoardo Molinari by a shot in the €150,000 Italian Federation Cup at Olgiata.

Molinari, who has already won twice on the Challenge Tour this season, added a flawless 65 to his opening 66 to move one shot clear of Thornton, Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts and Welshman Rhys Davies on 11 under par.

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