Marvellous McCarthy leading by one with 18 holes left to play at Desert Springs

Nick McCarthy carded the lowest round of the day and tournament so far (-8) to lead by one with just 18 holes now between him and a Challenge Tour card at the Andalusian PGA EuroPro Tour Championship.

 

McCarthy (Moortown Golf Club) started the day two off the lead after a solid opening round of 67 (-5), dropping just one shot in his first 18 holes at Desert Springs Golf Club, Spain.

 

A similarly solid round with two more birdies in the second round puts the Moortown man in the driving seat as he looks to try and clinch one of only two Challenge Tour cards not already tied up this season.

 

“My iron play has been great this week, they’ve left me some easy putts today, and luckily I’ve been able to get the putter going.”: said McCarthy.

 

It’s all or nothing for McCarthy tomorrow. Sitting 24^th in the Order of Merit; win, and he will find himself moving onto the Challenge Tour next season, anything else and he will miss out.

 

His track record at Desert Springs heading into this week isn’t the strongest, three rounds in the mid 70s in 2016 saw him finish tied for 43^rd.

 

He said: “Before I got here I would have said this isn’t a track that suits my eye, but I’ve managed to strike the ball well and put myself in great positions all week, so at -13 I’d probably now say it does suit me.”

Sitting a shot back on -12 is the experienced Steve Surry who, despite not having a win to his name in his EuroPro Tour career since 2009, has bundles of experience across the European and Challenge Tours, as well as plenty of success on the Sunshine Tour this season. And with a Challenge Tour card as his reward if he were to win tomorrow, there’s never a better time to get his first win on Tour.

 

The ever-consistent Dave Coupland completes the final leading group of the 2018 season, a position to which Coupland will feel more than accustomed to now.

 

Two wins already to his name this season, amongst four top five finishes and eight top 10’s in 15 starts this year; with the Challenge Tour card already wrapped up for the Woodhall Spa man, the prospect of knocking Mark Young off the top spot with a win tomorrow is the best and last chance he has, and one he will be focused on achieving.

 

Young (Longridge Golf Club) faces a more than mountainous task to try and steal the headlines tomorrow. The £250,000 four-win bonus cheque will likely not see the light of day barring multiple miracles with the Order of Merit leader 12 shots off the pace after a disappointing two-over second round.

 

The final round of the Andalusian PGA EuroPro Tour Championship starts tomorrow (Friday, 26^th October), with live scoring available at europrotour.com, and spectator entry is free.

 

Highlights of the Tour Championship will air on Tuesday, 6^th November on Sky Sports