KEENAN TAKES STEP CLOSER TO CHALLENGE TOUR


IAN KEENAN has moved a step closer to playing on the Challenge Tour next season after impressing in the latest PGA EuroPro Tour event.
The top six players on the EuroPro Tour Order of Merit at the end of the campaign advance to the Challenge Tour and one step away from joining golf’s elite on the European Tour.
Before the ABC Solutions UK Championship, which is being staged at the Wychwood Park Golf Club in Crewe , Keenan was third in the money list.
But his position could improve as he shares the lead going into the last day of the event where the overall champion will pocket £10,000.
Keenan (Royal Liverpool) started Wednesday’s play two shots off first place but a round of three-under moved him to a share of lead.
He could have had an outright lead had he not bogeyed the second, 12th and 16th holes.
James Heath is looking for his second top ten finish of the season and joins Keenan on five-under, although he also dropped three shots in his second round.
Day one leader Tim Dykes is still in contention for the top prize but will be hoping bogeys at the fourth, fifth, eighth and ninth do not prove costly.
Nick McCarthy was a one-time leader of the event as he was on five-under after 14 holes of his opening round on Tuesday.
However, all of his good work was ruined with a disastrous 15th when he shot a nine at the par-four hole to rapidly fall down the leaderboard.
McCarthy, who won last week in Merseyside, shot an even par round of 72 today and is tied 28th, but he would have been on the same score as Keenan and Heath if he had shot a par four instead of a nine yesterday.
Order of Merit leader Daniel Gaunt is not in EuroPro Tour action this week, while second placed Craig Lee is tied eighth, two shots behind Keenan and Heath.
The top players plus ties have qualified for the final round which takes place on Thursday.

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