[Photo: Jasper Wax/Getty Images]
It was one of the more bizarre golf stories in a week that’s been full of them. English tour pro Frank Kennedy was disqualified from DP World Tour Qualifying School for damaging a green in anger at the host course in Spain.
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As we reported yesterday, Kennedy was punted from the six-round event at Infinitum Golf in Catalonia for his indiscretion (even though he disputed the severity of the incident). Meanwhile, his removal from the tournament nudged the fourth-round cutline out by a shot, allowing seven additional players into the final two rounds, including Perth’s Haydn Barron.
How did Barron respond to the lifeline? With a fifth-round 65 overnight (Australian time), his best round of the week so far by three shots. His hot round moved him from the outer reaches of the field to now the fringe of contention for a DP World Tour card.
With a round left to play (tonight), Barron sits in a tie for 38th place. The top 15 and ties receive cards, meaning a score similar to his overnight six-under effort will be required. He’s 17-under, while tied for 15th is currently 22-under.
However, there’s already a silver lining to the world No.562’s quest. All players who made the fifth and sixth rounds earn at least some status on the secondary HotelPlanner Tour for 2027, ensuring the tall West Australian has a place to play outside his homeland next year.
Australians Cameron John and Jack Buchanan are also well in the mix for DP World Tour cards with a round to play. John (68-65-66-66-66) is tied for third at 26-under, just a shot off the lead, while Buchanan (70-62-66-68-69) is right on the number at 22-under, sharing the all-important 15th spot.
