Kearney determined to "seal the deal" in card quest despite Dutch Open frustration

Niall Kearney

Niall Kearney took a bogey-bogey finish on the chin and vowed not to give up in his quest for his European Tour card after finishing tied 12th behind an emotional Kristoffer Broberg in the Dutch Open.

Tied eighth overnight, the Royal Dublin man (33) was on course for his third top-10 finish in the season when he holed a bunker shot for eagle at the 12th and birdied the 16th to get to 14-under.

But while he dropped shots at par-three 17th and the par-five 18th to card a one-under 71, his 12th place finish still catapulted him up 10 spots to 118th in the Race to Dubai, leaving him just inside the all-important top 126.

"Today was a bit frustrating," Kearney confessed after winning €14,948 to take his season's winnings to €170,412. "I gave myself a lot of chances, but the putter was very cold, unfortunately. 

"I made a great eagle out of the bunker on 12 and made a great birdie on 16. I had chances all the way. Unfortunately, I finished bogey-bogey, which was disappointing."

There are just five events remaining before the cards are decided, and Kearney will be hoping to play the Alfred Dunhill Links and three events in Spain before the final counting Portugal Masters. 

"I don't really know what my schedule is going to be like," he said. "I have category 22, so it is hard to plan. Hopefully, I am going to get some more starts because obviously, I am chasing a card. 

"It's great to have another positive week and it has been a positive season overall. So hopefully, I can get a couple more chances to seal the deal."

He finished 11 strokes behind Broburg (35), who admitted he had endured "six years of hell" before battling his way back to triumph at Bernardus Golf. Scores

A maiden winner in 2015, the Swede played just 11 events between 2018 and 2020 after suffering a series of hip and knee injuries.

He led by eight shots heading into the final round but saw his lead reduced to two shots over up-and-coming German star Mattias Schmid, who shot 66 before he birdied the 17th and carded a nervy, level par 72 to win by three shots on 23-under.

"It's been a nightmare," Broberg said. "I was so close to quitting, it's been so... I don't know the word for it, but it's been a tough time."

Ryder Cup vice-captain Graeme McDowell tied for 22nd on nine-under after a 72 with Cormac Sharvin 64th on one-under after a 73 and James Sugrue 73rd after a 72.

On the Challenge Tour, England's Alfie Plant shot 67, then beat Austria's Lukas Nemecz and Germany's Marcel Schneider with a birdie at the first playoff hole to win the Hopps Open de Provence after they had tied on 17-under.

Kinsale's John Murphy was 42nd on four-under after a 72 with Tramore's Robin Dawson 48th, a shot further back, after a 73. Scores

Meanwhile, Olivia Mehaffey tied for 43rd in the Cambia Portland Classic on her LPGA Tour debut on US soil.

The Banbridge talent followed rounds of 73 and 72 with a closing 75 at The Oregon Golf Club to finish on four-over-par.

Mehaffey, who plans to play Stage II of the LPGA Q-School next month, won $5,880 as she finished 15 shots behind Korea’s Jin Young Ko, who closed with a 69 to win by four strokes on 11-under par from compatriot Jeongeun Lee and Australia’s Su Oh. Scores