A golden eagle three at the 13th hole at The European Club yesterday rescued Ian Kearney's round in the qualifier for the PGA Irish Championship.
Kearney went eagle-birdie-birdie from the 13th to hand in a best-of-the-day two-over-par 73 and lead the 37 qualifiers into the championship next month.
The Doonbeg man struggled with bogeys at the short second and par four holes 10 and 12 plus a double-bogey at nine where he lost a ball.
He was five over after 12 holes but then fired a drive and an eight iron to 15 feet and rolled home the putt for his eagle three. An 18-footer after an eight iron off the tee gave him a two at the 14th and he completed a great hat-trick with a three wood and nine iron to three feet for birdie three at 15.
The leader could then afford to drop a shot at the last and have one stroke still to spare over Nigel Howley (Balbriggan).
Wicklow's Enda McLoughlin shored up third spot with a round of 75 to ensure an appearance on home turf when Co Wicklow stages the championship from July 7 to 11, which will see Open Champion Padraig Harrington return to defend the title.