Fox fires to keep Dubai hopes alive - PGA of Australia

Fox fires to keep Dubai hopes alive


Kiwi Ryan Fox’s hopes of playing his way into the $US8 million DP World Tour Championship have been given a further boost with a late flurry of birdies at the European Tour’s Turkish Airlines Open in Antalya.

As Englishman Tyrrell Hatton used floodlights to complete a four-hole, six-man playoff and clinch the fourth European Tour title of his career, Fox and West Australian Jason Scrivener both edged closer towards the top 50 on the Race to Dubai standings.

The top 50 following this week’s Nedbank Challenge in South Africa will tee it up in the European Tour’s season-ending event at the Jumeirah Golf Estates from November 21 with Scott Hend the only Aussie currently inside the cut line in 46th position.

Winner of the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth event in February, Fox went into the Turkish Airlines Open 56th on the Order of Merit, moving up two spots with a tie for 21st given a late boost in the final round.

Thrust into contention at the halfway mark courtesy of a 7-under 65 in the second round, Fox continued to plunder birdies on the back nine on Sunday, picking up shots on four of his final six holes to sign for a closing 4-under 68.

The 32-year-old played the back nine over the four days in 13-under par to complete the 72 holes at 13-under, the same score as good friend Scrivener.

Like Fox, Scrivener can play his way into the season finale in Dubai after moving up two spots to be 59th heading into the penultimate event of the year.

Two shots off the lead through 36 holes following rounds of 68-66, Scrivener’s third round of 1-over 73 was marred by a double bogey at the par 3 fifth to drop to a tie for 25th.

Five birdies in a final round of 4-under 68 saw the 30-year-old move four spots up the leaderboard and with his hopes of qualifying for Dubai very much intact.

Hend produced a consistent week to move up four spots to be 46th on the Race to Dubai standings while Wade Ormsby’s season in Europe appears to be over, his tie for 38th in Turkey placing him as third alternate for the Nedbank Challenge.

The Challenge Tour in Europe wrapped up with the Challenge Tour Grand Final in Spain, Kiwi Josh Geary unable to force his way into the top-15 who earn promotion to the main tour in 2020 with a tie for 27th.

European Tour
Turkish Airlines Open

The Montgomerie Maxx Royal, Antalya, Turkey

T21         Ryan Fox              73-65-69-68—275             €51,777
T21         Jason Scrivener 68-66-73-68—275             €51,777
T36         Scott Hend          69-68-72-70—279             €33,342
T38         Wade Ormsby   72-68-69-71—280             €29,723

European Challenge Tour
Challenge Tour Grand Final

Club de Golf Alcanada, Port d’Alcúdia, Mallorca, Spain

T27         Josh Geary          74-71-73-72—290             €3,425


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