Niall Kearney with coach Johnny Foster. Pic via http://www.johnnyfostergolfacademy.comNiall Kearney faces a tough battle to qualify for the final stage of the Asian Tour Qualifying School in Thailand later this month.

Richard Wallis (above) is tied for the lead with David Higgins with just 12 holes to go in the 54-hole PGA Play-offs. Picture: Matthew Lewis/Getty ImagesDavid Higgins will go into the last 12 holes of the weather-reduced Titleist PGA Play-Offs tied for the lead with defending champion Richard Wallis and gunning for revenge.

Peter Martin leads the 54-hole PGA Irish Championship at Mount JulietBelfast talent Peter Martin cracked six birdies in opening 67 to lead the weather-reduced PGA Irish Championship at Mount Juliet.

David Higgins comfortably made it to the Second Stage of the Qualifying SchoolDavid Higgins knows that you have no business going to Q-School if you cannot cruise through Stage One and the old dog proved to be the man for the hard road when he headed the six Irish contenders to survive the Section B qualifiers in England and Germany this week.

Waterville’s David Higgins is the leading Irish player at Wychwood Park.Paul Cutler’s European Tour career remains on hold after the former Walker Cup star missed the 54-hole cut at the First Stage of the Qualifying School for the second year in a row.

Alan Dunbar hit a magnificent 66 to boost his chances of winning a tour card.Walker Cup star Alan Dunbar boosted his chances of winning his tour card when he fired a second round 66 in his Stage One Section B qualifier at the European Tour Qualifying School in England.

Top of the pile. Peter Lawrie at Wentworth on Thursday. Picture by www.golffile.ie“So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.”

On a  day of bibiical proportions for Ireland’s big name challengers in the BMW PGA Championship - it was a plague of locusts for Rory McIlroy (74), Graeme McDowell (74) and Padraig Harrington (76) - some of the lesser lights shone brighest and some old glories sparked again on a scorching day on the famous Burma Road.

Barrie Trainor. Picture Jenny Matthews/Newsfile.ie Barrie Trainor won the Lexus Race to Mount Juliet tournament in association with PING and Failte Ireland to claim the Order of Merit title.

The Warrenpoint native shot rounds of 68 and 70 at the Kilkenny venue to win by four shots from Brendan McGovern on six under par and take the Irish Order of Merit title from last year’s winner David Higgins.

Waterville man Higgins (70-73) tied for third with Eamonn Brady, Jimmy Bolger, Robert Giles and Darren McWilliams on one under par.

Barrie Trainor during the Irish PGA. Picture Jenny Matthews/Newsfile.ieBarrie Trainor is perfectly placed to overhaul David Higgins and snatch the Lexus Race to Mount Juliet after opening with a four under par 68 in the 36-hole, year-ending bonanza.

The Ulsterman had six birdies in brilliant first round effort at the stunning Kilkenny venue outside Thomastown to share the lead with Headfort’s Brendan McGoven.

Trainor had four birdies on an error-free card to join bogey-free McGovern at the top and move one stroke clear of recently crowned Irish Assistants champion Seamus McMonagle (69).

David Higins wants to retain the Lexus Race to Mount Juliet this weekend. Pictured during the BMW PGA at Wentworth by Eoin Clarke/Golffile.ieDavid Higgins will have his eyes peeled for Barrie Trainor and Damian Mooney when he tries to retain the Lexus Race to Mount Juliet in association with PING and Failte Ireland this weekend.

Rory McIlroy and caddie JP Fitzgerald on Thursday. Photo Jenny Matthews/www.golffile.ieRory McIlroy refused to back down in his vigorous defence of his caddie following his Twitter war with pundit Jay Townsend.

The Ulsterman told the former pro and TV commentator to “shut up” and branded him a “failed golfer” after getting annoyed by Townsend’s constant criticism of JP Fitzgerald.

Rory roared: “I don’t really have any respect for the man after what he did, or after what he has done the last three years.”

Darren Clarke found out this week that there are major advantages to winning the Claret Jug.

Sources in the know say the Open champion avoided a speeding ticket as he burnt rubber in his €200,000 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti on the 300 mile trip from Belfast to Killarney on Monday.

Stopped by two police, Clarke was expecting the worst when an officer did a double take and enquired: “Aren’t you….?”

Barrie Trainor. Credit: www.golffile.ieBarrie Trainor blasted six birdies in his last 10 holes to surge into contention for the Europro Tour’s Galgorm Castle Northern Ireland Open.

The Warrenpoint native and Mayobridge professional fired a five under par 67 - the joint best score of the day - to move up to tied sixth with Brendan McCarroll (70) on six under.  Scores

They’re four shots behind Scotland’s Ross Cameron, who holds a two-shot lead going into the final day on 10 under par after following his opening 63 with a 71, with Cork’s Stephen Hackett (70) the next best of the Irish on five under.

Damian Mooney and Niall Kearney kept their tour dreams alive when they battled through the second stage of the European Tour Qualifying School in Spain.

Gary Murphy revived his chances of making next week’s finals when he fired a second round 69 at the second stage of the European Tour Qualifying School in Spain.

Popular Kilkenny man Gary Murphy faces a 10-round marathon to win back his European Tour card.

The affable 38-year old is just one of 12 Irishmen set to peg it up over 72 holes in the Second Stage of the European Tour Qualifying School at four venues in southern Spain from November 26-29 and, hopefully, the six round Finals in Catalunya.

Former champion David Mortimer will be bidding to continue his almost faultless bid for his second Ladbrokes.com Irish PGA title when he takes a one stroke lead over the European Tour star Damien McGrane and Belfast’s Damian Mooney into the final round at Seapoint.

Damien McGrane was forced to become Mr Angry to get his Ladbrokes.com Irish PGA bid back on track at windy Seapoint.

Padraig Harrington salved the wounds of the Kingdom’s All Ireland football championship demise when he produced another of his trademark battling performances to thrill the Kerry galleries and keep the home challenge for the 3 Irish Open on track at blustery Killarney.

Michael Collins produced a rollercoaster finish the lead the Irish hopefuls after the first round of the opening Europro Tour event of the season - the Motocaddy Masters at Wensum Valley.

Ulster champion Barrie Trainor double bogeyed his final hole but still kicked off his season with a share of tenth place in the Polaris World Mar Menor Open on the Hi5 Pro Tour in Spain.

The Warrenpoint man, 28, shot a one under par 71 in the third and final round at the Murcia venue but slipped back to one under par overall after a nasty six at the 18th.