Golf: Geary remains on course for card

Josh Geary. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand golfer Josh Geary has completed another impressive round and lies in a tie for fifth after two rounds of the final qualifying school event for next year's United States PGA Tour at the Orange National complex, Florida, today.

Geary backed up his opening round three-under par 69 on the Crooked Cat course with a four-under par 67 on the Panther Lake course today, carding seven birdies - including birdies on each of the four par fives - and three bogeys.

At seven-under par Geary is just three shots behind the leader, Canadian Chris Baryla, who fired the standout round of the day with an 11-under par 61 on Crooked Cat.

The top 25 players after six rounds earn full playing rights to the PGA Tour for 2011 and the next 50 gain full cards to the second-tier Nationwide Tour.

Geary, who played on the Canadian Tour this year but qualified for the final stage at q-school courtesy of his fourth-placed finish on the Australasian Tour Order of Merit, is easily the best placed of the five New Zealanders as his compatriots struggle to keep up with the pace.

Tim Wilkinson, the only one of the five to have appeared on the PGA Tour this year after playing under a medical exemption following surgery on his thumb last year, slipped from 51st to a tie for 65th after signing for a one-over par 72 on Panther Lake today.

Danny Lee climbed one spot to a tie for 94th after also carding a one-over 72 on the Panther Lake layout.

On the Crooked Cat course, Michael Hendry took advantage of the par fives with three birdies but dropped five shots elsewhere for a two-over par 74 to be five-over for the tournament and tied for 128th.

Steven Alker, who played on the Nationwide Tour this year, had a two-over 74 today. He is seven-over for the tournament and in a tie for 147th in the 162-strong field.

- NZPA