Kearney Returns in Toulouse

The European Challenge Tour enters the home straight this week with only four events left for players to secure a European Tour card, starting with this week’s ALLIANZ Golf Open du Grand Toulouse, which tees off on Thursday - and the field includes the Team Ireland duo of Colm Moriarty and Niall Kearney. 

Kearney returns to Challenge Tour action for the first time since the Turkish Airlines Challenge at the Carya Golf Club in early May having been troubled with injury after that event. 

This year there is plenty at stake and potential graduates need look no further than last year’s winner, John Parry of England, who has progressed from Challenge Tour graduate to becoming a European Tour winner. 

Last year the former Walker Cup player and team mate of Rory McIlroy won the ALLIANZ Golf Open du Grand Toulouse securing his maiden professional title. He has now joined the list of European Tour Champions after winning the Vivendi Cup recently at Golf du Joyenval in Paris. 

Parry was the fourth Challenge Tour graduate from 2009 to win on The European Tour, following Rhys Davies (Trophee Hassan II), James Morrison (Madeira Islands Open BPI – Portugal) and Edoardo Molinari (Barclays Scottish Open and Johnnie Walker Championship). 

All the leading contenders are in action this week, headed by Spain’s Alvaro Velasco, the leader of the Challenge Tour Rankings who is chasing his third title of the season. Behind him, Swede Oscar Floren and Dane Thorbjorn Olesen are neck and neck in the tussle for second place with England’s Robert Dinwiddie fourth. 

A top ten place on the Rankings is also important and Marius Thorp of Norway, a former Junior Ryder Cup player, will be looking to consolidate his position as will England’s Lee Slattery right on the bubble in 20th place. 

Colm Moriarty is currently ranked 52nd.