European Tour School Stage 2

Ahead of the final stage of the Qualifying School process being held next week at PGA Catalunya in northern Spain, over 300 players are this week battling it out across four venues in the south of the country for a coveted place in the final field, a battle that began today.

Swedish Challenge Tour Member Joakim Lagergren holds a one shot lead at the El Valle Golf Resort, Murcia, after posting a stunning eight under par first-round 63.

Lagergren, who finished 86th in the 2011 Challenge Tour Order of Merit, carded a flawless bogey-free round that included four birdies on the front nine – at the first, third, seventh and eighth holes – before matching this par total on the back nine after eagling the 296-yard par four 11th and holing birdies at the 12th and 16th holes.

The Swede, who recently turned 20, made it to the final stage last December only to finish 59th and went on this year to complete his first full season on the Challenge Tour after turning professional last year.

The Netherlands’ Floris De Vries, who finished fourth in the 2010 Challenge Tour rankings, has played his first full year on The European Tour this year is one shot back from Lagergren after shooting an excellent seven under par 64.

De Vries, currently 169th in the 2011 Race to Dubai, carded six birdies on the back nine to come home in a superb 29 shots.

Meanwhile, three players are tied for third place in the early standings, with Welshman Mark Laskey, England’s David J Smith, and Scottish amateur James White a further shot back after signing for six under par 65s.

South Africa’s Allan Versfield and England’s Graeme A Clark are tied for the early lead at La Manga Club, Alicante, after both men shot superb seven under par rounds of 66 in the opening day’s play.

Versfield, currently 18th in the Order of Merit on his native Sunshine Tour, posted an unblemished score that included five birdies – at the fourth, ninth, 13th, 16th and 17th holes – plus a fine eagle at the testing 587-yard par five sixth hole.

Meanwhile, Clark, who hails from Doncaster in England, equalled the South African’s efforts after shooting an impressive eight birdies and one bogey over the South Course at La Manga today. The Englishman made it to this stage in last year’s Qualifying School only to miss out on a trip to PGA Catalunya after eventually finishing 59th at the penultimate hurdle.

It was a day for good scoring in Cartagena, with Wales’ Seon E Bebb and Challenge Tour Member Italian Andrea Perrino just one off the pace after both carding six under par rounds of 67, while five other players sit just one shot further back after the first round exchanges.

Former amateur World Number One, American Peter Uihlein, is in a three-way tie for the lead at four under par after the opening day’s exchanges at the Costa Ballena Ocean Club in Jerez.

Uihlein, the 2010 US Amateur Champion, started steadily with seven pars before making birdie at the par five eighth and again at the tenth, 12th, 13th and 17th holes, with the only blemish coming in the form of a bogey at the long par three 14th.

Spaniard Pedro Oriol, who won the 24th card at the 2010 Qualifying School Final Stage, also shot a steady 68 to join Uihlein at the top after the first round, as did Australian Wade Ormsby who afterwards revealed that the windy weather had played its part in a testing day in Jerez.

Scotland’s Jack Doherty, the Netherlands’ Taco Remkes and England’s Sam Hutsby all posted three under par 69s, with eleven players a further shot back at two under par.

At the Las Colinas Golf and Country Club, Denmark’s Andreas Hartø is one of five players tied for the early lead at five under par after the first round.

Hartø, a two-time winner on the Challenge Tour in 2010, bounced back from a bogey at the par five third hole to card six birdies – at the fourth, sixth, 11th, 15th, 16th and 18th holes – to secure an opening salvo of 66.

His compatriot Morten Orum Madsen also signed for the same score in a round that featured a fine eagle on the par five 18th hole, while South Africa’s Le Roux Ferreira, Finland’s Antii Ahokas and England’s Benn Barham also equalled the Danes’ scores to make a strong start to their quests for a place in next week’s final stage.

However, six men lurk one shot further back at the close of Friday’s play, including Frenchman Christophe Brazillier and Scotland’s Elliot Saltman, after posting four under par 67s.

Over 300 players, across four venues in the south of Spain, are this week bidding for a place in the Final Stage of Qualifying School due to be held at PGA Catalunya, Spain, from December 10-15, however Qualifying School Director Mike Stewart earlier made an announcement as regards to the eventual amount of spots available in the field for the final.

Stewart said: “With the Second Stage of the Qualifying School being played against the penultimate event on the European Tour (the UBS Hong Kong Open) and the various anomalies and uncertainty that this has created, the entry deadline for the Qualifying School Final has been extended to 17.00 (UK time) on Sunday 4th December.

“The number of exempt places will therefore be finalised on Sunday evening and the exact number of qualifying spots from Second Stage will be determined and published following this.

“Nevertheless we can confirm at this point that there will be a minimum of 16 spots available at each venue.”

Quiros Moves Ahead in Fanling

A third round 67 gave Alvaro Quiros a one shot lead over Peter Hanson at the UBS Hong Kong Open.

Quiros, who on both previous days had shared the lead with Rory McIlroy, carded three birdies in a bogey-free effort which took him to ten under par.

World Number Two McIlroy, however, had to fight back from consecutive bogeys on the front nine to sign for a level par 70, leaving the 22 year old in fifth place and in danger of missing out on the top-two finish he needs to stand a chance of catching Luke Donald in The Race to Dubai.

Ryder Cup star Hanson signed for joint-best-of-the-day 65 to charge firmly into contention, while his score was matched by former US PGA Championship winner Y E Yang, who shares third place with Thailand’s Pariya Junhasavasdikul (67).

“I hit the ball great from the tee and to the green,” said five time European Tour winner Quiros. “But the putting was very, very poor. 

“Obviously my length is always an advantage. If I'm able to hit the fairway on the second hole, I have great chances to make a good birdie, an easy birdie, when the others probably are struggling a little bit with the tee shot and then with the second shot.” 

McIlroy started in solid fashion but, after missing a birdie chance on the third, found sand at the par three fourth and his par putt from ten feet grazed the edge of the hole.

Worse was to follow as his drive at the fifth ended behind a tree and, after chipping onto the fairway, his third shot missed the green.

However, he managed to get up and down to limit the damage to a bogey and drop to five under par.

McIlroy then steadied the ship with a string of pars before collecting his first birdie of the day at the 13th.

He also drained a mid-range putt for another at the 17th as he fought back to post a 70 and remain in the hunt.

“I just didn't have anything out there,” said the US Open Champion. “Mentally I just wasn't at the races, and struggled to get anything going.

“It was one of those days where nothing much was happening, and it was nice to birdie a couple coming in to keep me in it. I'm only three behind, so if I can get off to a decent start tomorrow, I'm right back in it.” 

Ryder Cup teammate Hanson moved into second place after a fine 65 which included one bogey and six birdies.

"It was nice," Hanson said. "To sum it up, it was very good putting.

"I had a bit of a slow start making a bogey on the second but from there it was very solid and there were a couple of good bunker shots that saved some pars through the middle part of the round."

Yang, who also mixed birdies with a solitary bogey, added: "I'm in a good position, better than being ahead in the first or second round.

"One more day to focus, 18 holes to play. I think my chances are fairly good. There was minimal wind today, so that helped a lot, and my irons and my putter were playing as I've always wanted them today."

Yang shares third with Junhasavasdikul on eight under after the Thai youngster overcame a terrible start that saw him bogey the first and double bogey the second with six subsequent birdies.

"I kept telling myself 'Okay, the round is not over, you made it through to the weekend after playing really bad the last couple of months,'" Junhasavasdikul said.

"Just go out there and enjoy it, just one shot at a time and try to make something happen."

England's first round co-leader David Horsey is in the group at five under par following a 69, while defending champion Ian Poulter is six shots off the lead after a 67.

GMAC Leads Sun City NedBank

Graeme McDowell will take a one-shot lead into the third round of the Nedbank Golf Challenge in Sun City tomorrow.

McDowell overcame a double bogey seven on the 14th to card a five under par 67 at the Gary Player Country Club.

At seven under par the former US Open champion tops a crowded leaderboard with defending champion Lee Westwood, world number four Martin Kaymer, Swede Robert Karlsson and American Jason Dufner all one shot behind.

World number one Luke Donald is five shots off the pace after a 72 left him two under alongside home favourite and Masters Tournament champion Charl Schwartzel.

Schwartzel began the day tied for the lead with Westwood, but struggled to a 74 after running up a double bogey six on the eighth.

McDowell’s own double bogey came on the par five 14th after he pulled his drive into the undergrowth, but the Northern Irishman also had seven birdies, including two in his last three holes.

“That's exactly what I wanted,” McDowell said. “It’s a pretty bunched leaderboard, which says a lot about how tough the course is when you start leaving the beaten track.

“I’m very happy to finish with a couple of birdies after a bit of a whoopsie on the par five.”

McDowell spent a long time on the range after yesterday’s opening round and added: “I spoke to my coach Pete Cowen who told me to tighten up my backswing a bit and I felt like I controlled my ball a bit better today, so thanks Pete!”

Ryder Cup team mate Kaymer was also pleased with his 68, which featured one bogey, three birdies and an eagle on the par five 10th.

“I played well again, the same as yesterday,” the German said. “I look forward to the weekend, I think I’ve put myself in a good position.

“I had a few good weeks in China last month which gave me a bit of confidence.”

Maybin Ace Wins Omega Watch

Gareth Maybin’s perfect five iron from 199 yards on the par three fourth hole of the Hong Kong Golf Club saw the Northern Irishman win an Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Annual Calendar watch during the second round of the UBS Hong Kong Open.

Maybin, whose ace was the fourth of his career, is tied for 17th in Hong Kong on one under par going into the weekend.

“I had 199, it was playing a bit downwind and it was a perfect number for my five 5 iron. Only about ten yards short, rolled up and went in. I saw it all the way and went a bit crazy on the tee but why not?

“Looking forward to getting the watch – I really wanted an Omega about two years ago and after I did well in Korea and went and bought one, looks like I have two now!”

R2 leaderboard

McIlroy Shares Hong Kong Lead

Rory McIlroy shares the lead with Alvaro Quiros and David Horsey at the Hong Kong Open after firing a superb opening six-under-par 64.

McIlroy's bogey-free round in windy conditions was later matched by Quiros and Horsey while Miguel Angel Jimenez was one behind after a 65.

McIlroy is third in the order of merit, £970,000 behind leader Luke Donald, who is not playing in Hong Kong.

"It was very good, a solid round. I didn't make a mistake," said McIlroy.

Gareth Maybin, badly needing a good finish to hold on to his tour card, responded by firing an impressive 66.

However, Dunhill Links winner Michael Hoey shot a disappointing opening 78.

Peter Lawrie shot a 69 with Padraig Harrington, needing a high finish to force himself into next week's Dubai World Championship field, having to be content with a 70.

Damien McGrane, like Maybin under a degree of pressure to hold on to his card, was near the bottom of the field after carding a 77.

Starting on the 10th, McIlroy picked up birdies at the 14th and 16th to reach the turn in 33 before a sand wedge to inside three feet at the first brought another.

The 22-year-old moved to four under at the next and although his drive from the fifth tee found the bunker, a superb recovery allowed him to knock in a short putt for his fifth birdie of the day before adding his sixth at the next.

"Six birdies and no bogeys is always a nice way to start the tournament," added McIlroy, who has twice finished runner-up at the Hong Kong event.

"I just gave myself a lot of chances - I think I hit 17 greens and a lot of fairways - and I was able to take a few, which was nice."

A win for McIlroy would help to cut Donald's lead at the top of the order of merit heading into the Dubai World Championship.

Maybin started this week's event in 120th place in the order of merit, with only the top 118 after Sunday's tournament conclusion set to hold on to tour cards for next season.

However, Maybin, after starting at the 10th, picked up birdies on the 11th, 12th, 15th and 16th and parred his remaining 12 holes to card a 66.