Kearney hits route 66 as Turner exits Asian Q-School

Asian Q-School leader Donlaphatchai Niyomchon of Thailand. Royal Dublin’s Niall Kearney shot a superb six under par 66 in the second round of the Asian Tour Qualifying School Final Stage to keep his hopes of winning his card alive.

But there was bitter disappointment for Asian Tour regular Niall Turner from Muskerry, who slipped to a five over 77 to miss the halfway cut by six shots in Thailand. (Scores)

Kearney faced a tough task in Hua Hin when he opened with a three over par 74 at Springfield Royal Country Club that left him outside the top 100 who would make the halfway cut.

But his 66 at the Imperial Lakeview course catapulted him into a tie for 48th on three under, leaving him just one stroke outside the top 40 and ties who will earn full Asian Tour cards on Saturday.

Turner ended his week tied for 198th on six over 142 having played for the first two rounds alongside Prince Nakeem Jefri, the 39-year old nephew of the Sultan of Brunei.

In his bid to become the first golfer from Brunei to earn an Asian Tour card, the prince also had a week to forget, however, shooting rounds of 82 and 83 to finish last of the 244 finishers.

Thailand’s Donlaphatchai Niyomchon leads by three shots on 13 under from England’s Steve Lewton and Canada’s Richard Lee while among those missing the level par cut were England’s Billy Hemstock, Scot Jack Doherty, former Ryder Cup player Jarmo Sandelin and the 2011 European Amateur champion Manuel Trappel of Austria