Niall Turner at Panasonic Open [Courtesy Asian Tour]
Having failed to secure playing rights on the European Tour and the PGA Tour over the past two years Niall Turner went eastwards last January to play the Asian Tour Qualifying School at the Imperial Lakeview & Springfield Royal Country Club in Hua Hin, Thailand.
After an opening day 73 the Minnesota Graduate held his nerve to sign for a 70 on day two which he followed by the final two under par round – earning the reward of a tour card for the 2011 Asian Tour season when he finished amongst the top 40.
Availing of the events for which he is exempt, he played the SAIL Open in Delhi and finished in twelfth place. Then in mid March he returned to the eGolf Tour where Turner finished with 4 under overall to secure 29th place at the Samanah Classic, with a 26th place at the El Jadida Classic in Morocco the following week.
In early April at the Panasonic Open finished one under par round to secure a two way share of 16th place at the Delhi Golf Club, with a colourful card that included an eagle and double bogey. Having been disappointed with some of his striking earlier in the week Turner clearly proved his ability throughout the four rounds as he picked up shots almost at will, it seemed, and Saturday's round was no different.
Having dropped a shot at the second he reached the turn one under after an eagle 3 at the par five 8th. Then a poor start on the back nine the saw him bogey the 10th, and then double bogey the par three 12th. But three consecutive birdies on 15, 16 and 17 ensured a final round of 71 and a four under par total and a cheque for €4,050
Background
It was the summer of 2010 when Niall Turner of Team Ireland Golf won his first professional tour event at the South Dakota Open at the Bluffs golf course in South Dakota – where the Cork man led from start to finish with a 20-under-par total after rounds of 65, 68 and 63.
At the US PGA Qualifying School First Stage at Lantana in Texas a final round of 66 was not enough to get him through to the second stage to join Michael Murphy and Chris Devlin following two rounds of 75. A level par finish placed him 34th and four shots outside the cut mark.
On the European Tour Turner qualified for Stage 2 at Hacienda del Amo in Murcia in late November and was one of twelve Irish players who made it through the first stage having qualified at The London Club in September.
However the Muskerry Man ended his final day with a 70 in Spain to finish in 39th place with an aggregate 288 bringing to a close his second Q School campaign of 2010.
In 2007 UCD Shane Lowry – a UCD Scholar ship student at the time - scored a 4 and 3 victory over Niall Turner in the final of the Golfsure sponsored Irish Amateur Close Championship at Cork Golf Club. On the way to the final the Muskerry man had beaten Cian Curley of Newlands with Lowry overcoming Jonathan Caldwell.
Niall is a graduate of the University of Minnesota.
Fact file
Date of Birth: May 26th 1983
Attachment:
Birthplace: Cork, Ireland
Residence: Minnesota.
Original Club Affiliation: Muskerry Golf Club
Tour: 2011 Asian Tour
