McGeady Survives School Test

Attrition is the word most commonly used about European Tour Qualifying School and the Second Stage has again taken its toll this week in Spain, ending the hopes for next season for seven Irish golfers. 

Only the one player earning a spot for the Final Stage next week at PGA Catalunya.

Niall Kearney the unexpected casualty after a one over par final round 72 saw the Dubliner drop 15 places and out of contention when he finished T21.

Having started the day in 4th place - and looking comfortable - it disappointingly proved insufficient for Kearney as those around him fired four and five under par rounds, leaving Kearney short sided at Lumine Golf and Beach Club.

Only the top 17 finishers at each venue and ties qualifying.

Kearney however earns Category 15 Membership of The European Tour for next season having finished within the top 25 places.

Michael McGeady enjoyed better news after clinching a share of fourteenth place after a final 70 - for a 3 under par overall at Campo Golf El Saler. The former Irish PGA Champion making the turn level and then picking up two shots on the home stretch to ensure his place inside the minimum mark.

Niall Turner signed for a 70 and moved up ten spots to a share 38th place at Las Colinas Golf and Country Club. But without making it any closer to full tour playing rights for 2015 on this occasion.

David Higgins carded a third round 70 for a share of 41st place and Mark Murphy dropped to 62nd after a final round 75. Both Waterville men left without full rights either.

Brendan McCarroll signed for 79 and share of 68th place.

Ruaidrhi McGee ended his campaign this year with a 68 and share of 51st place at Panoramica Golf and Sport Resort.

Gareth Shaw carded a 71 albeit with an improved position in 60th place.

Chris Paisley won his Second Stage event of The European Tour Qualifying School at Las Colinas Golf & Country Club with a five under par last day round of 66, which took the Englishman to 17 under in total. At the Spanish event, 18 players progressed.

Those 18 spaces where hotly contested and a four man playoff ensued for the remaining three spots when Englishman Matthew Cort, Dane Christian Gloet, Australian Geoffrey Drakeford and German Sebastian Heisele all finished in tied 16th position on seven under par.

Heisele and Gloet progressed in 16th and 17th place respectively, birdieing the second and third playoff holes, while it was Cort who missed out as Drakeford birdied the fourth playoff hole capturing the last qualifying spot in the process.

In the corresponding event at Panoramica Golf & Sport Resort, Englishman Matthew Southgate leapfrogged his compatriot Toby Tree with a five under par 65 to steal first place on 22 under par. However, again the real drama unfolded lower down the leaderboard on 13 under par as a sudden death six man playoff ensued for the remaining spaces.

After a tense battle, it was South African amateur Zander Lombard who took the 15th spot and Dane Jeff Winther the 16th. Gary Lockerbie then proceeded to hold his nerve to take the 17th place with a par three on the fifth playoff hole.

Elsewhere, Welshman Garry Houston stole the show at Campo de Golf El Saler, firing home in a seven under 65 to win the event.

But as with the other events, the real action came at the cut off for progression; Dane Daniel Løkke and Englishman Chris Lloyd hung on to take two of the last three qualifying places, where they were joined by Norwegian Espen Kofstad, who leapt up four positions to snatch qualification on two under par.

Meanwhile at the final event, Portuguese whiz Ricardo Gouveia completed his qualifying campaign with a rock steady level par 71 at Lumine Golf & Beach Club to stay at 18 under and advance on pole. A quartet of four players, consisting of France’s Guillaume Cambis, Englishmen Garrick Porteous and Nathan Kimsey and American Wes Homan, all shared the last progression spaces at nine under par.

Across the four venues, a total of 69 players qualified to the Final Stage where the top 25 players plus ties will earn their playing rights for The 2015 Race to Dubai.

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Kearney Eyes PGA Catalunya Return

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The end of day three at the second stage of European Tour Qualifying School has crystallised the dreams of some of the Irish hopefuls in Spain on Sunday and the chance for a spot in the final qualifying at PGA Catalunya next weekend.

Niall Kearney looks set to return after a blistering sixty-six pushed him up to a share of fourth place at Lumine Golf and Beach Club on Sunday, with five birdies on the card without loss. 

With the top 17 and ties qualifying Kearney looks set to make the trip to PGA Catalunya for third successive season.

Michael McGeady finished in share of sixteenth place after a third round 72 at Campo Golf El Saler to finish one under par overall. But more importantly inside the mark in 16th place with one round left to play on Monday.

McGeady got little payback from his day, trading one bogey and birdie in an otherwise faultless round. But a cluttered leader board around him leaves little room for manoeuvre on Monday and still under some pressure.

Niall Turner in contrast signed for a 72 and heads into Monday in 49th place at Las Colinas Golf and Country Club with little prospect of progressing.

David Higgins carded a third round 70 for a share of 40th place and ends his fifteenth trip to Q School at the second stage.

Mark Murphy remains 17 places adrift of fellow Waterville man after signing for a 72 and unable to fulfil his dream this year of playing on the European Tour.

Brendan McCarroll signed for another 70 and remains in share of 65th place.

Ruaidrhi McGee has been unable to match the form of last season and his third round 70 at Panoramica Golf and Sport Resort leaves him with no chance of further progress this season. 

A double bogey six on the sixth hole undoing the gains of five birdies on Sunday.

Gareth Shaw carded a 71 for 69th place.

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High Hopes for McGeady and Kearney

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On day two of European Tour Qualifying School second stage the eight Irish hopefuls continued their toil across four venues in Spain. All fighting for a spot in the final qualifying at PGA Catalunya.

Niall Turner fired a second round 67 at Las Colinas Golf and Country Club for a two under total that moved him into a share of 34th place - within three strokes of a projected spot. But nine strokes off the leader.

Campo de Golf El Saler saw Michael McGeady improve his chances with a slice of  7th place overnight after carding a second round 70 to remain one under par. Only a couple of strokes off the top of the lead board

Niall Kearney also made progress Lumine Golf and Beach Club with a second round 69 to move into 17th place on three under. Albeit eight behind the leaders.

David Higgins bounced back on Saturday with a 69 to move up to 36th place at the halfway stage but with work still left over the next two rounds.

Mark Murphy slipped to 44th place after a second round 70.

Brendan McCarroll signed for a round of 70 and remains anchored towards the bottom of the leader board.

Ruaidrhi McGee ended day two with a 69 but moved up only place from Friday on 3 under toal at Panoramica Golf and Sport Resort.

Gareth Shaw found form with a 66 on Saturday and moved up to 56th within five shots of a possible qualifying place.

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McGee Steady at Q School

European Tour

Ruaidhri McGee proved consistent with a third round 67 at Las Colinas Golf and Country Club on Monday to retain a share 5th place going into the final round of European Tour Qualifying School Stage Two.

Four birdies without loss from the Rosapenna golfer ensured he stayed well inside the mark to ensure progress to the final stage next week at PGA Catalunya.

England’s James Heath will take a seven stroke lead into the final round following a seven under par 64 in Spain. Heath posted seven birdies to move to 19 under par and extend his advantage over the field, with Welshman Liam Bond (67) and South African Brandon Stone (68) joint second on 12 under par.

There are 17 spots in the Qualifying School Final Stage available from La Colinas, with seven players currently tied in the 17th and final position.

Niall Kearney is four places off the mark and just one stroke away after his two under round of 69 fell a bit short short, carding just two birdies on the day in a blemish free round.

Damian Mooney eagled his ninth and eleventh holes to finish in a share of 40th after a round of 70, suffering a double bogey on the par 5 third hole. His hopes of progressing further this year are still in the mix as the Q School veteran is currently just four off 17th place with a round to play.

Stephen Grant however is out of the race after a third round 70 mixed birdies and bogeys on Monday leaving the former Shamrock Rovers player in a share of 50th place.

Brendan McCarroll finished one over par and is T69 ahead of Tuesday’s final round with the dreams of further qualifying now put aside on this occasion.

David Rawluk did not complete the third round.

At Campo de Golf El Saler, Spaniard Carlos Del Moral and Italian Niccolo Quintarelli both posted rounds of 72 to share the lead on seven under par, with Scotland’s Neil Fenwick two shots back on five under par following a 73.

Kevin Phelan peppered his card with red and blue to finish with a 74 for share of 16th place – one inside the minimum to see more action next week. The Walker Cup man needs more than two over par in the final round to be safe. 

Colm Moriarty dropped four strokes by the turn yet managed to finish level on the back nine to keep the damage at a four over par 76. Although placed 31st overnight a three shot swing sees the Glasson professional back in the mix and through to the next stage.

Alan Dunbar finished round three carding 73 and shares 61st place and off the pace needed at this level.

John Daniel Guiney signed for a 78 and the Ballybunion man well out of this event since the first day 82, which all but ended his hopes this year.

There are 17 spots available from El Saler.

At Lumine Golf & Beach Club, England’s Chris Hanson has a two stroke lead heading into the final round following a four under par round 67 for a 12 under total of 201.

Hanson has fellow Englishman Daniel Gavins on his tail on five under par, with the pair hoping to seal among the 17 player to progress to the Final Stage in two weeks. Currently, nine players are in a tied for 16th position on six under par, including English pair Zane Scotland and Tom Murray, son of former European Tour winner Andrew.

Dermot McElroy signed for a 69 after three birdies sent him into 25th place – and just one stroke off a share of 16th. So fortune will favour the brave on Tuesday and a place in the Final stage next week may still beckon. 

At Valle Romano play was suspended due to high winds, with 14 groups still yet to start their third rounds.

Play will resume at 9am on Tuesday morning with round four now schedule to get underway on Wednesday, with 18 spots at Final Stage available.

Gareth Shaw is 46st overnight and five shots off the group on T16, the minimum requirement needed. But with two rounds still left to play there are 36 holes of golf to help him move up the leader board.

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McGee Best in Class

European Tour

Ruaidhri McGee finished in a share of fifth place at European Tour Qualifying School Stage 2 at Las Colinas to keep his PGA Catalunya hopes alive after a one under par 70 on Sunday.

A double bogey on the first did not bode well for the Rosapenna professional for his Round 2 hopes. However three birdies on the way to the turn brought McGee under par and a level finish at the eighteenth secured a spot seven strokes from the leader James Heath. More importantly well inside the coveted first fifteen places with two days to go.

Stephen Grant went the opposite direction after a strong start on Saturday, to finish day two in a tie for 78th place - carding a round of 78. A double bogey on the par four 12th the major damage in a round that also included six bogeys.

Niall Kearney moved to a share of 21st with a second day 71, despite a double  bogey on the par 4 sixth. 

Damian Mooney fired a 69 and moved to 39th spot cruising around Las Colinas in two under par.

Brendan McCarroll was ten strokes worse though and a 79 included a double and triple bogey on Sunday.

David Rawluk is 66th after carding a second round 75 and unlikely to make it beyond Monday's cut.

At Campo de Golf El Saler the pace is being set by Carlos Del Moral from Spain and Niccolo Quintarelli from Italy on -7, where the best of the Irish, Kevin Phelan, was 72 for the day and sharing twentieth place.

The Waterford man has some work to do for a final Stage spot after his round of 35 and 37 reflected little drama he encountered,  as he matched birdies and bogeys to finish level. 

Colm Moriarty was one better with 71 but four places further adrift on day two after his one over par opening round. 

John Daniel Guiney signed for  a 75 with a  double on the par 4 sixth the damage, leaving him in 75th spot at the half way stage.

Alan Dunbar signed for 80 despite an eagle 2 on par four 14th. That good news aside the card was just too blue with no recovery birdies to improve his chances.

At Lumine Golf and Beach Club in Tarragona Dermot McElroy finished three under par on Sunday to finish 20th and five strokes off the leader Chris Hanson - who was unable to match his first 64 - and signed for a round of 70.

At Valle Romano Golf Gareth Shaw finished with a three under par 68, and only good enough for a share of 46th place. Three players share the lead on -10, Nikolai E Nissen, Gary Stal and Lee Bedford.

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Grant and McGee Top Class

Photo: Gordon McCadden

Stephen Grant and Ruaidhri McGee set the Irish pace at European Tour Qualifying Stage Two on Saturday with rounds of 67 at Las Colinas, in a tie for 8th place on the first day. A total of four strokes separate them from the leader, James Heath, who carded eight birdies with just one loss, to finish the back nine in 31 strokes.

Heath leads in Alicante on -7.

Grant showed the continued form after PGA Tour qualifying a two weeks ago and completed an error free round with four birdies. McGee, winner of Stage 1, had just one stetback when he bogeyed the par three 13th.

Brendan McCarroll was two strokes further back in a share of eighteenth after a first round 69.

Niall Kearney was one in under par and in 28th place on Saturday

Damian Mooney carded a 74 which also included a double on the par 4 sixth.

David Rawluk finished with a 75 on opening day and has much work to do to make the third round cut.

At El Saler Kevin Phelan led the Irish challenge with 71 and that was only good enough for 16th place as Sweden's Pelle Edberg carded a 66 to lead at -6. 

Colm Moriarty finished one over par on 73 and is in 37th to join Alan Dunbar in Valencia.

John Daniel Guiney's run may have ended after reaching the eighteenth on 38 strokes, then double bogeying his eleventh hole - the par four second - followed by a triple on the next to end his day on 82.

At El Lumine Dermot McElroy suffered a double on the sixth but recovered to sign for a level par 71. But in 41st as England's Chris Hannon leads on 7 under  after signing for a 64.

Valle Romano saw  Gareth Shaw end the day on 72 strokes with the pace setter Pontus Widegren of Sweden carding a 64.

There are still a number of exempt places in field for the Qualifying School Final to be determined following the conclusion of the Challenge Tour Grand Final and the publication of the Challenge Tour Rankings. 

Therefore the exact number of spots available at each 2nd Stage venue will not be announced until this is published on Sunday 3rd November in the afternoon.

However, there will be a minimum of 15 spots available at each venue.

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Irish Dozen in School Chase

Photo: Gordon McCadden 

In Early November European Tour Qualifying School Stage will start on four courses in the south of Spain with twelve Irish candidates battling through the halfway stage to earn a chance to play in the final stage a few days later. Where the first twenty five places offer a one season playing category for the 2014 Season.

Gareth Shaw returns once more in pursuit of that elusive playing card after winning the AlpsTour order of merit last year to regain his Challenge Tour for 2013. The Team Ireland golfer will be the only Irish entry at Valle Romano Golf & Resort near Estepona on November 2nd. 

Colm Moriarty is another veteran of Q School and this season will complete his twelfth visit when he tees off at El Saler in Valencia. The Glasson professional is part of a group that includes Walker Cup player Kevin Phelan, Alan Dunbar and Ballybunion's John Daniel Guiney

Las Colinas in Alicante will welcome one time League of  Ireland professional Stephen Grant, Brendan McCarroll and David Rawluk, all now experienced with the qualifying routine. The winner of Stage 1 at Wychwood Park last month Ruairdhri McGee also joins them.

Niall Kearney returns looking to improve on his 67th place in Catalunya two seasons ago at Stage 3 and to better his disappointment at the Asian Tour Q School in January. 

Damian Mooney, a close contender for the Irish PGA Championship this year, hoping to improve on his 123rd finish in 2010. All on the basis that Stage 2 does not become the impassible hurdle it proved for so many Irish players last year.

Dermot McElroy is drawn at Lumine Golf Club in Tarragona with the Ballymena talemt yet to fulfil his promise. 

The European Tour Qualifying School Schedule will once again reach its exciting conclusion at PGA Catalunya Resort, where the Final Stage will be played for the sixth consecutive season from November 10th -15th.

Last season, John Parry won by four strokes with a 19 under par total en route to regaining his European Tour card, having lost his playing privileges a little over a year after picking up a maiden title at the 2010 Vivendi Cup.

The Englishman was one of 28 golfers who qualified from the six round event, which every year tests the field’s skills, as well as their stamina, under the most intense pressure following a long, hard season.

Based ten miles south of Girona in the north east of Spain, the 36-hole resort boasts two championship layouts alongside state of the art practice facilities, and is part of the European Tour Properties Network.

Over the first four rounds, both the Stadium and Tour courses will play host to a field comprising of golfers at either end of the spectrum, with young up and comers and experienced pros alike teeing it up having made it through the previous two qualifying stages, or having narrowly missed out on a European Tour card through the Race to Dubai or Challenge Tour Rankings.

The course was co-designed by European Tour Champions and members of the Board of Directors, Neil Coles MBE - who announced earlier this year that he was stepping down as Chairman after 38 years in the position - and Vice Chairman Angel Gallardo, Vice Chairman.

As a further measure of the resort’s quality, the Stadium layout has also been included in Golf World magazine’s ‘Top 100 Courses in the World’, as well as Golf Monthly magazine’s ‘Top 50 Courses in Continental Europe’ in recent years.

Mike Stewart, Qualifying School Director, is particularly excited to be returning to PGA Catalunya Resort once again in 2013.

“PGA Catalunya is an excellent facility that year-on-year has welcomed the Qualifying School back with open arms, and this season promises to be yet another thrilling conclusion to the process as some of the newest and the most experienced players battle it out for their European Tour cards.

“Knowing that the players will be greeted by some of the best practice facilities around, as well as two stunning championship layouts, will no doubt help them get through what is bound to be a long and stressful week.”

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Shaw Ready for Galgorm Challenge

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Gareth Shaw is hoping to take full advantage of his home track at Galgorm Castle Golf Club as he leads a 27-strong Irish contingent into the €170,000 Northern Ireland Open Challenge, presented by Clannah and XJET.

Shaw, who grabbed some serious headlines in his homeland with a fifth place finish in the Irish Open back in June, will have an army of home support willing him to succeed this week with an estimated crowd of 30,000 expected to flock through Galgorm’s gates over the next four days. 

“I’m looking forward to competing at home and on a course I am familiar with. Hopefully the home support will feed in with family, friends and my coaches around this week. My game is very solid and it’s a great opportunity,” said Shaw.

“I won the Ulster Youths here in ’96, and then finished in a tie for third here a couple of years ago in the EuroPro event a couple of years ago, so I have a decent bit of experience.

“You’ve got to be able to hit the ball how you want it. It’s a good course, very fair. The fairways are pretty wide in spots but if you hit bad tee shots you get punished and the greens are excellent.”

The Northern Ireland Open will also host top European players such as Portugal’s José-Felipe Lima, who is second on the Challenge Tour Rankings with €91,842. 

Lima has been so consistent all season and, with no less than eight top 10 finishes, including tied third at last week’s Rolex Trophy, he has already secured his European Tour card for next season. 

Lima is closely pursued by Italy’s Andrea Pavan and the French duo of Victor Riu and François Calmels. 

Should Calmels triumph at Galgorm he would gain automatic promotion to the main tour with three wins this season. Australia’s Daniel Gaunt, who is familiar with Galgorm having finished runner-up in a previous EuroPro Tour event, is another man to watch over the coming days.

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