Kearney edges closer to card with second top 10 of the season at St Andrews
Niall Kearney
Niall Kearney took a giant step towards securing his European Tour card when he closed with a back-to-back 66s to clinch his second top-10 finish of the season in the Hero Open at Fairmont St Andrews.
Often unsure when he is playing as he is ranked in Category 22, which is for players who make the cut but fail to win cards the Q-School, the Dubliner (33) tied for eighth on 16-under, eight shots behind maiden winner Grant Forrest of Scotland.
Forrest (28) broke into the winner’s circle for the first time when he birdied the last two holes to shoot 66 and win by a shot on 24-under from James Morrison, who set the target at 23-under with a closing 63.
Kearney struggled from the tee on the back nine in the final round but he is playing with such confidence he still came home in two-under as he bids to finish in the top 127 in the Race to Dubai who are guaranteed full cards in 2021-22.
“I hit the ball quite well but on the back nine today I struggled to be honest,” said a delighted Kearney, who was ranked 134th in the Race to Dubai starting the week. “But I was two-under on the back nine so I felt as if I robbed a good score overall.
“I hit the ball well and I had the better side of the draw on Thursday and Friday which obviously made it a little bit easier.”
Kearney withdrew after an opening 75 at Fairmont St Andrews last year but felt the course suited his game.
Despite missing five of seven cuts since finishing tied fourth in the Canary Islands Championship in May, he’s been playing frequently and gradually built up his confidence.
“I’m in a low category — category 22 — so it’s great I’m getting to play almost every week and I am hitting the ball well and my form seems to be quite good,” said Kearney who will play the Cazoo Classic at The London Club and the D+D Real Czech Masters over the next two weeks.
“Even Thursday, Friday this week I felt I left a lot of shots out there but I was comfortably making the cut. So it gives me confidence going forward. I have another start next week down in the London Club and then Czech the week after this is the third week, so that will be five on the road.
“Hopefully I can keep the one going and get myself up there in the Race to Dubai as well. I didn’t hit the ball very well they’re off the tee on the back nine so I’ve a little bit of work to do over the next couple of days.”
Jonathan Caldwell tied for 30th on 11-under after a closing 73 while Gavin Moynihan clinched his best European Tour finish for 21 months when he tied 48th on seven-under after a 68.
