Scottish Hydro Challenge

Macdonald Spey Valley G.C

Aviemore, Scotland 10th June - 13th June 2010

Michael McGeady carded an opening round 68 (-3) in the Scottish Hydro Challenge on the European Challenge Tour in Scotland today. Michael is currently tied for 17th, one shot behind Italian teenage sensation, Matteo Mannassero on -4 and three behind the first round leader, Magnus Carlsson on -6.  

Brian McElhinney & Michael McGeady both made the cut on their respective Tournaments yesterday (24th Feb) and capitalised on that today by enhancing their positions on the final leaderboard.

Brian is in Morrocco competing in the Al Maaden Classic on the EPD Tour and after early rounds of 74 & 71 needed a decent round on the final day to make up ground on the pack. Regulation pars were the order of the day until Brian carded a double bogie at the par 5 4th, a hole he birdied in the first round and bogied on day 2. He bounced back however, with two Birdies at the 7th & 9th to stay at even par for the nine. a further birdie at the 13th was cancelled out by another dropped shot at the 15th and Brian duly parred the remaining 3 holes to post a 72 and a T35 for the Tournament. Brian has made the cut on all of his outings so far on the EPD Tour and will hope to continue that run when he tees it up on Sunday in the Samanah Classic also in Morrocco. 

Michael McGeady is in Spain competing on the Hi5 Pro tour and was this week contesting the 2010 Polaris #3 Riquelme Open. After carding two 74's in the opening rounds, Michael knew he would have to dig deep to make any progress on the final day, Starting at the 10th, Michael didn't have to wait long before his first Birdie of the day, a 4 at the par 5 11th, at the hole where he tripled on the first day and doubled on day 2, (in the end Michael finished 5 shots off the winning total). Two more Birdies were to follow at the 12th & 14th to get him to -3 for the day, a string of pars ended the back nine and it was at the 1st hole where he wrote down the only bogie of the round on his card. Michael immediately bounced back with birdies at the 2nd, 4th & 5th and all pars to the finish to post a 67 and move up to T16 from 38th the day before.

Michael's next outing on the Tour is the 2010 Polaris #4 El Valle Open on March the 2nd    

Michael McGeady is preparing for another crack at the European Tour school and after coming so close last year he will be hoping to finish among the graduates earning their card for 2010.

The Second Qualifying Stage is played over 72 holes from 20-23 November with the Final Stage taking place over 108 holes (six rounds) at PGA Golf de Cataluyna in Spain from 28 November _ December 3.

The leading 30 players (plus those tied for 30th place) will earn Category 11b Membership of The European Tour for 2010, which expires at the end of that season. 

Everyone at the North West wishes Michael well on his latest outing on the Tour.

Michael pictured with clubmate and fellow Touring professional, Brian McElhinney & Shaun McGonagle, Mind Factor Coach.   

Italian Federation Cup Olgiata GC Rome, Italy
21 Oct 2009 - 24 Oct 2009

Michael McGeady kept in touch with the leaders in the Italian Federation Cup by carding a second successive sub par round. His -3 69 followed a first round 71 to leave Michael on -4 and tied for 17th.

 Michael had 4 birdies on his card in round one and 5 birdies in the second round, an indication of the good form Michael is currently experiencing. 

Top of the leaderboard after day two was home favourite Edoardo Molinari as he added a flawless round of 65 to his opening 66 to move to 11 under par.

Despite persistentrain at Olgiata GC in Rome, Italy, the Italian never looked in trouble, and finished with a flourish to open up a one-stroke lead at the midway stage of the €150,000 event, which is the penultimate stop on the 2009 Challenge Tour Schedule.

Molinari has already won twice on the Challenge Tour this season, but two of his nearest challengers can both also claim the same.