Niall Kearney is top Irish performer at Tour School.

The first 72 holes have been completed at the European Tour qualifying school at the PGA CATALUNYA complex in Spain.

156 started out playing 36 holes on the STADIUM COURSE and 36 holes on the TOUR COURSE with the top 70 plus ties going through to the final 36 holes and at the end of that only the top 30 and ties will gain a full card for 2010.

Leading the way is SIMON KHAN who had a 6 under par 66 around the tough Stadium course to sit on 20 under par.He has a 3 shot lead over Alejandro Canizares who had a 65 on the same course for a 17 under par total.

The top Irishman is new Professional Niall Kearney.He showed his great potential with a super 69 around the Stadium course to sit in joint 24th place on 7 under par.
Gary Murphy keeps his hopes alive of regaining his card after a 74 leaves him in a share of 49th alongside Simon Thornton who's 69 on the Stadium course will guarantee him at least a full Challenge tour card for next year.

There was no such good news for the other 3 Irish.Johnny Caldwell hit a ball out of bounds at the final hole.He took a triple bogey 8 and finished on level par after a final round of 72 on the Tour course.A par 5 would have got him through to the final 2 rounds.Colm Moriarty who started with a 65 on the tour course could only manage to finish in 113th place on 2 over par.His downfall was the Stadium course where he took a 77 and a 76.
John Kelly was 9 over par starting his round and finally found his game with a 3 under par 67.He finished in 134th place on 6 over par.