Moynihan happy to be in touch after tough day at Q-School

IN SALOU

GAVIN MOYNIHAN believes his iron play must improve if he’s to win a card at this week’s final stage of the European Tour Qualifying School in Spain.

While the top 25 and ties is the goal for many, the Mount Juliet touring professional must finish in the top 10 at Lumine Golf Club in Tarragona to improve on his status.

He had to birdie his final hole on the Hills Course at Lumine in yesterday’s second round to card a level-par 72 and admits he’s surprised he’s 32nd on two-under par – just three shots outside his goal.

“To be honest, I thought I’d be 52nd and near the cut line rather than 32nd,” Moynihan said after another windy day.

“I am only a couple of shots from where I want to be but my iron play wasn’t good today. I made a good few birdies and holed a few nice putts in the middle of the round but I just struggled with my swing again.”

This week’s Q-School is taking place next door to the Port Aventura amusement park but the rollercoaster thrills are being provided by the 156-man field.

Moynihan lost a ball in a tree trying to lay up at his second hole, the par-five 11th, and made a double-bogey seven.

BOUNCING

But after bouncing back with four birdies in five holes either side of the turn, he made three bogeys in the next five before a sweet 15-footer dropped for birdie at the Hills’ tough ninth hole.

England’s Tom Murray shot a nine-under 63 and Italian Andrea Pavan a 68 on the Hills Course to lead by a shot from Switzerland’s Jeff Winther on 10-under par.

Moynihan (23) is eight strokes off the lead but just three shots outside the top ten in the marathon, six-round test.

But the other three Irish in action are now battling to make the cut for the top 70 and ties after tomorrow’s fourth round.

Derry’s Ruaidhri McGee (26) is two shots outside the projected mark on two-over despite making two late birdies to salvage a one-over 73 on the Hills.

Ardglass’ Cormac Sharvin (25) is 131st and struggling on five-over after a 74 on the Lakes Course while Ballymena’s Dermot McElroy (24) is tied 139th on six-over after a 75 at the Lumine’s Hills Course.

Two-under par after nine holes, he followed three backnine bogeys with a double-bogey seven at the par-five 16th that was all down to mental arithmetic

“I made a mistake on 16, adding 51 and 16,” confessed McElroy sheepishly.

“I thought it was 76 yards and it’s obviously 67, so I flew the green with a wedge into the back bunker and took three more to get down from there.”