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| European Tour |
Ruaidhri McGee led the way for most of the Second Stage at Wychwood Park, and yet a two over 74 in the final round was enough to triumph by two shots in Cheshire with a three under par 285 total.
Northern Irishman Alan Dunbar, the 2012 Amateur Champion, finished alone in second after a closing 70, one shot clear of South Africa’s Darryn Lloyd.
Colm Moriarty finished in share of fourth and also makes it through carding 72,67,80 and 70 for an aggregate 289.
Dermot McElroy added to the Irish success by finishing in fourteenth place on 293.
American Bryan Newman, meanwhile, fired a joint low round of the day of 68 to storm 20 places up the leaderboard to qualify for the Second Stage on the mark at nine over par.
Paul Cutler ended a poor week with a 78 and missed out after finishing in 34th place - five shots off those ties at +9.
Matt McAlpin and David P Jones had been already cut after round three.
In Germany American John Hahn shot four rounds in the sixties to lead the 24 qualifiers from Golf & Country Club Fleesensee at the First Qualifying Stage Section B.
Niall Kearney finished in a share of 9th place and will make it to the next stage.
Cian McNamara however was less fortunate with a 287 aggregate having fired a second round 78, which effectively ended his chances of progressing this year.
Hahn, whose family originate from the host country, signed for a closing 69 – to go with previous rounds of 67, 65 and 68 – for a 19 under par aggregate of 269 to finish five shots clear of a quartet featuring compatriot Kyle Thompson, Austria’s Philipp Fendt, Sweden’s Gabriel Axell and Germany’s Philipp Mejow.
Fendt was one of three players to shoot a joint best-of-the-day 66 in Göhren-Lebbin to seal progression alongside Norway’s Christian Aronsen, who climbed to tied 12th, and Frenchman Cyril Bouniol (tied 16th).
Players from 13 different countries, including a strong representation of Scandinavian states, were among the 24 who finished on 281, seven under par, or better.
A further four nationalities were represented among the 27 qualifiers from Wychwood Park in England.
A total of 51 players progressed through and will take their place in the Second Qualifying Stage, to take place in the first week of November over four courses in Spain leading to the Final Stage at PGA Catalunya Resort.
The First Qualifying Stage continues next week as more hopefuls begin their quest for a place on The European Tour with Section C taking place at Ribagolfe in Portugal and Circolo Golf Bogogno in Italy.
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