Q-School: Moynihan on track; Dawson and Sharvin chasing
David Borda. Picture: Getty Images
Mount Juliet's Gavin Moynihan moved into contention to regain his European Tour card when he shrugged off a niggling back injury to fire a six-under 66 in round two at the gruelling Final Stage of the Qualifying School in Spain.
The Portrane native (24) followed his opening 68 on the Lakes Course at Lumine Golf Club in Tarragona by making eight birdies in a six-under effort on the Hills Course.
He's tied for 14th on nine-under par, one stroke inside the top 25 and ties who will be awarded cards after six rounds and four shots inside the top 70 will make the 72-hole cut tomorrow and play two more rounds.
"I'm very happy considering where I was 48 hours ago," said Moynihan, who had treatment before and during his first round and more treatment before the start yesterday.
"It's my lower back. The muscle and nerve were inflamed and swollen but my back was a bit looser today. I've had treatment before the rounds and on the course yesterday."
Moynihan’s wedges and putter were at their best but he’s seven shots behind Spain's David Borda, who carded a nine under par 62 on the Lakes Course to lead by four shots on 16 under par from overnight co-leader Daniel Gavins and Sweden's Anton Karlsson.
Tramore's Robin Dawson (22) is tied for 112th on one-under after a two-under 70 on the Hills Course and now four shots outside the top 70 and ties who will make the 72-hole cut tomorrow and earn Challenge Tour cards.
After coming home in three over to open with a one-over 72 on the Lakes Course on Saturday, the Waterford man birdied four of his first ten holes on the Hills but then finished disappointingly again by following bogeys at his 12th and 13th holes (the fourth and fifth) with four closing pars.
Despite that, he’s upbeat about his game and his chances after just 36 holes.
“[I’m] much happier with today,” Dawson said. ”I'm hitting it real nice at the moment. If I can just capitalise on more of my opportunities I’m close to a couple of low ones. I just need to stay patient over the next few days.”
Ardglass' Cormac Sharvin also needs a low round as he's two shots further back on one-over after mixing three birdies with two bogeys and a double bogey in a one-over 73 at the Hills Course yesterday
With 72 holes remaining in the six-day marathon, leader Borda (32) is focussed on continuing to play the way he has over the opening two days.
“I feel pretty good,” said the Spaniard, who won the Alps Tour Grand Final to finish second in the Order of Merit and secure Challenge Tour status.
“It’s the best round of my life at nine under and I think I played the best golf of my life too because I didn’t miss many putts. I played pretty much perfectly. I’m very happy.
“It’s like a new tournament now. We still have 72 holes remaining, so I just want to keep doing what I’m doing, try to play my golf and we’ll see at the end of the week.”
European Tour Qualifying School Final Stage, Lumine Golf Club, Tarragona, Spain
Lakes Course (Par 71), Hills Course (Par 72)
127 D Borda (Esp) 65 62;
131 D Gavins (Eng) 62 69; A Karlsson (Swe) 67 64;
132 C Braeunig (Ger) 67 65; N Lemke (Swe) 68 64; Z Lombard (RSA) 64 68; J Abbott (Eng) 68 64;
133 I Cantero Gutierrez (Esp) 65 68; M Fenasse (Fra) 66 67; D Cooke (USA) 67 66; B Henson (USA) 67 66; M Schmitt (Ger) 62 71; K Reitan (am) (Nor) 63 70;
134 A Knappe (Ger) 68 66; N Cullen (Aus) 70 64; Gavin Moynihan (Irl) 68 66; C Hanson (Eng) 64 70;
135 H Sturehed (Swe) 67 68; A Olsen (Nor) 66 69; N Tinning (Den) 65 70; D Lawson (Aus) 65 70; J Geary (Nzl) 66 69; G Migliozzi (Ita) 70 65; B Evans (Eng) 68 67; B Ritthammer (Ger) 65 70; M Kawamura (Jpn) 67 68; G Havret (Fra) 67 68; K Kitayama (USA) 70 65; R Langasque (Fra) 70 65; M Warren (Sco) 68 67; S Gros (Fra) 68 67; J Winther (Den) 65 70;
136 N McCarthy (Eng) 68 68; R Enoch (Wal) 66 70; C Blomstrand (Swe) 66 70; C Sordet (Fra) 70 66; F Bergamaschi (Ita) 67 69; A Cañizares (Esp) 65 71; A Wejshag (Swe) 69 67; B Hafthorsson (Isl) 67 69; K Johannessen (Nor) 69 67; A John (am) (Ger) 68 68;
137 P Angles (Esp) 66 71; R Sciot-Siegrist (Fra) 69 68; C Gloet (Den) 66 71; J Brun (Fra) 69 68; T Hunt (Wal) 69 68; C Shinkwin (Eng) 69 68; J Senior (Eng) 68 69; L De Jager (RSA) 71 66; P Maddy (Eng) 69 68; G Stal (Fra) 67 70; D Boote (Wal) 70 67;
138 H Leon (Chi) 71 67; E Holmes (Can) 70 68; C Syme (Sco) 66 72; R Evans (Eng) 67 71; M Ford (Eng) 67 71; J Lima (Por) 68 70; M Kim (Kor) 66 72; A Rozner (Fra) 68 70; D Whitnell (Eng) 68 70; O Lindell (Fin) 69 69; M Manassero (Ita) 70 68; R De Sousa (Sui) 68 70; R Bland (Eng) 68 70; M Siem (Ger) 68 70; C Ross (Sco) 67 71; S Kim (USA) 73 65; A Wilson (Eng) 69 69;
139 R McGowan (Eng) 68 71; J Dean (Eng) 71 68; O Wilson (Eng) 71 68; A Hansen (Den) 73 66; J Parry (Eng) 69 70; B Easton (RSA) 66 73; P Peterson (USA) 65 74; H Joannes (Bel) 73 66; W Enefer (Eng) 70 69; J Choi (Kor) 65 74; A Daydou (Fra) 68 71; S Fernandez (Esp) 70 69; C Berardo (Fra) 70 69; M Schneider (Ger) 68 71; M Simonsen (Den) 74 65; E Cuartero Blanco (Esp) 69 70;
140 D Perrier (Fra) 71 69; J Ross (Sco) 68 72; E De La Riva (Esp) 69 71; L Jensen (Den) 67 73; S Garcia Rodriguez (Esp) 66 74; S Dyson (Eng) 68 72; S Gregory (Eng) 69 71; G King (Eng) 68 72; J Thomson (Eng) 71 69; C Lloyd (Eng) 69 71; M Calderon (Chi) 69 71; S Heisele (Ger) 70 70; D Huizing (Ned) 70 70;
141 O Bekker (RSA) 73 68; P Edberg (Swe) 70 71; A Meronk (Pol) 69 72; U Coussaud (Fra) 69 72; D Stewart (Sco) 72 69; J Heath (Eng) 70 71; A Saddier (Fra) 66 75; S Webster (Eng) 69 72; J McDonald (Sco) 72 69; M Nixon (Eng) 71 70; J Lando Casanova (Fra) 72 69; L Canter (Eng) 69 72;
142 S Forsström (Swe) 69 73; O Farr (Wal) 74 68; C Robb (Sco) 74 68; J Zunic (Aus) 71 71; Robin Dawson (Irl) 72 70; J Ritchie (RSA) 71 71; J Ruth (Eng) 68 74; J Strydom (RSA) 75 67; A Willey (Eng) 67 75; A Connelly (Can) 71 71; M Iten (Sui) 71 71; P Langfors (Swe) 70 72;
143 G Bourdy (Fra) 70 73; A Cockerill (Can) 73 70; C Hill (Sco) 75 68; F Aguilar (Chi) 72 71; E Ferguson (Sco) 71 72; P Mejow (Ger) 73 70; D Im (USA) 71 72; B Hutchinson (am) (Eng) 75 68;
144 J Catlin (USA) 69 75; T Cruz (Por) 70 74; E Johansen (Nor) 70 74; R Finch (Eng) 73 71; T Tree (Eng) 74 70; Cormac Sharvin (Nir) 71 73; O Lengden (Swe) 72 72;
145 R Saxton (Ned) 72 73; R Jouven (Fra) 74 71; R Green (Aus) 74 71;
146 B Virto (Esp) 72 74; S Henry (Sco) 74 72; S Tarrio Ben (Esp) 77 69; J Fernandez-Valdes (Arg) 77 69; T Fisher Jnr (RSA) 76 70; J Stalter (Fra) 75 71;
147 D Young (Sco) 71 76; M Laskey (Wal) 77 70; F Dreier (Den) 76 71; N Geyger (Chi) 75 72;
148 R Cho (Kor) 76 72;
149 J Carlota (Por) 73 76;
150 C Pigem (Esp) 72 78;
156 B Eccles (Aus) 75 81;
DQ T Murray (Eng) 66 DQ
