<p>Chris Devlin hits his tee shot on the 10th hole during the first round of stroke play at the 2021 U.S. Amateur at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pa. on Monday, Aug. 9, 2021. (Justin Aller/USGA)</p>
Chris Devlin birdied two of his last four holes to keep his dream of a PGA Tour Champions card alive in Arizona.
The Ballymena amateur (49), who is bidding to win one of just five cards for the megabucks over 50s circuit in the PGA TOUR Champions Qualifying Tournament-Final Stage at TPC Scottsdale, opened with a two-under 69 to lie just two shots outside the top five who will be awarded cards.
Dicky Pride and Denmark’s former Irish Open champion Soren Kjeldsen fired seven-under 64s to lead by a shot from Sweden’s Freddie Jacobson with American Jason Shultz alone in fourth after a 66.
Five players shot four under 67s to share the final qualifying berth in fifth place – former Masters and US Open champion Angel Cabrera, Americans Jerod Turner, Jeff Gove and David Branshaw and Australian duo Scott Barr and Brendan Jones.
Devlin is tied for 22nd on two-under after a rollercoaster day on the Champions Course.
He got off to the perfect start with birdies at the first and second and while he bogeyed the fourth, seventh and eighth, he birdied the ninth to turn in level par before picking up those two late birdies.
He was a shot better than former European Tour stalwarts, Scots Stephen Gallacher and David Drysdale, who were tied for 29th after 70s.
There is no cut in Scottsdale, where there will be a hole by hole playoff to decide the five cards in the even of a tie.
Conroy faces uphill battle
Meanwhile, Enniscorthy’s Paul Conroy has his work cut out to qualify for next week’s PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry at TPC Sawgrass.
The Wexford man made three birdies and six bogeys in an opening three-over 75 in his Second Stage qualifier at the Robert Trent Jones Trail at Highland Oaks in Alabama.
He’s tied for 22nd, four shots outside the top 17 and ties who will progress to the Final Stage.
California’s David Longmire shot a five-under 67 to head the field by a shot.
Article Link: Devlin just two shots off the pace in Champions Tour card bid - News - Irish Golf Desk