Caldwell £7,500 richer as Kilpatrick slips back
Jonny Caldwell on the march. Pictured at Galgorm Castle recently by Thos Caffrey / www.golffile.ie
Clandeboye's Jonny Caldwell can still win back his Challenge Tour card after he finished tied second behind Scottish amateur Craig Ross in the PGA Europro Tour's Glenfarclas Open and picked up £7,500.
Ross, 21, shot a six-under-par 64 to win by three shots at Mar Hall in Glasgow on 16 under par but as he couldn't collect any winnings, Caldwell and Paul Shields pocketed £7,500 each by splitting the £10,000 winner’s cheque and the £5,000 second prize.
Ross began the final round tied for the lead at 10 under alongside Shields and Banbridge's Richard Kilpatrick, who carded a four-over 74 to finish tied 13th.
A late flurry from Caldwell saw him pick up four shots in three holes from the 15th, but a birdie at the last ensured his playing partner Ross would collect the trophy
“It feels great to come out on top in such a good event,” said Ross. “The pros are very, very good and to win feels awesome. It is a great achievement for myself and a big confidence booster as well."
Kilpatrick earned £675 for his efforts as Tim Rice and Colm Moriarty shot 70s to share 30th on level par and earn £291 each. The Island's David Rawluk (77) was 57th and won £175.
But the big mover is Caldwell, who has found form at just the right time having picked up nearly €3,000 for finishing 12th in the Northern Ireland Open Challenge at Galgorm Castle.
With the top 60 players on the Europro Tour's money lis) invited to play the Visit Egypt Tour Championship, the £60,000 season-finale at El Gouna Red Sea Resort, Caldwell is in with a chance of winning back his Challenge Tour card.
The Top 5 in the money list gain automatic promotion to the second tier circuit and Caldwell jumped 23 spots to 14th on Friday.
Irish in the Europro Order of Merit: Jonny Caldwell 14th, Richard Kilpatrick 17th, Michael McGeady 24th, Mark Murphy 32nd, Tim Rice 56th, Stephen Grant 58th.
