European Tour Qualifying School Stage 1

McNicoll, Saltman, Paul Doherty,
Fox qualify for Stage 2 - but
Richie Ramsay misses out
by three strokes

Tongo Charamba of Zimbabwe led the qualifiers from The Oxfordshire where Walker Cup players Rory McIlroy and Lloyd Saltman also successfully progressed through The European Tour Qualifying School First Stage (Section A).
Charamba shot a final round of 70, two under par, for a 21 under par total of 267 to finish one shot ahead of Welshman Alex Smith. The English pair of Matthew Morris and Paul Waring were a distant six strokes back but were comfortable qualifiers in sharing third place.
The leading Scot in sixth place was Keir McNicoll, pictured right, from Carnoustie. Keir has not relinquished his amateur status - yet.
Inevitably focus was on the Walker Cup players who were so narrowly beaten by the United States at Royal County Down last Sunday. Two of the three in action made it through with Lloyd Saltman from Craigielaw finishing in joint seventh place following a final round of 71 for a ten under par total of 278 and Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy joint 13th after a final round of 71 for an eight under par total of 280.
Saltman collected the first cheque of his professional career - for £100.
The third of the Walker Cup trio Llewellyn Matthews missed out by two strokes after a final round of 70. A total of 32 players qualified for the Second Stage on four under par 284.
The Scots who made it alongwith Saltman were Keir McNicoll, PGA EuroPr0 Tour player Paul Doherty and Graham Fox.
The Scots who did not make it include last year's US amateur champion Richie Ramsay who has been campaigning quite successfully on the Challenge Tour but failed by three shots with a total of 287.
Instead of his dream of playing on the European Tour next year, the Aberdonian looks headed for the "Third Division" of the PGA EuroPro Tour.
McALPINE MISSES OUT
Scottish open amateur stroke play champion Kevin McAlpine (Alyth) missed out by one shot with 285. Kevin has retained his amateur status just in case this happened.
At Fleesensee Golf and Country Club in Germany, Dane’s Knud Stoorgaard and Kasper Linnet Jorgensen finished a joint winners on 15 under par after rounds of 71 and 72 respectively to secure safe passage through to the Second Stage. A total of 28 players successfully negotiated the first hurdle by finishing on two under par 286.
Only one Scot made progress to Stage 2 from the eliminator at Chart Hills Golf Club, Kent. He was Grantown-on-Spey's Duncan Stewart who sagged a bit with a final round of 73 but qualified in joint seventh place on 282.
A total of 31 players went through from Chart Hills with totals of 287 or better.
Scottish failures were Paul McKechnie (288), Graham Gordon (291) and Graeme Lornie (292).

THE OXFORDSHIRE FINAL SCOREBOARD
Par 288 (4 x 72)
267 Tongo Charamga (Zim) 67 67 73 70 (£1,500).
268 Alex Smith (Wal) 65 68 66 69 (£1,000).
274 Matthew Morris (Eng) 65 68 68 73, Paul Waring (Eng) 70 70 64 70 (£600 each).
276 Gary Boyd (Eng) (am) 70 67 65 74.
277 Keir McNicoll (Sco) (am) 71 73 64 69.
278 Lloyd Saltman (Sco) 72 69 66 71, J S Mason (Eng0 71 70 71 66, Carl Duke (Eng) 69 65 72 72 (£100 each).
Other qualifiers for Stage 2 included:
279 Paul Doherty (Sco) 71 67 72 69 (jt 10th).
280 Rory McIlroy (NIr) (am) 70 67 71 72 (jt 13th).
284 Graham Fox (Sco) 67 69 73 75 (jt 24th).
+A total of 32 players with totals of 284 or better qualified for Stage 2.
Scottish non-qualifiers:
285 David Patrick 69 73 69 74, Kevin McAlpine (am) 69 73 69 74.
286 Callum Nicoll 77 75 67 67.
287 Richie Ramsay 74 71 71 71.
290 S G Mackie 70 75 73 72.

CHART HILLS SCOREBOARD
Par 288 (4 x 72)
276 Matt Ford (Eng) 69 70 70 67 (£1,500).
277 Shaun Norris (SAf) 73 70 69 65 (£1,000).
280 Gary Cullen (Ire) 72 72 66 70 (£700).
281 D Brooks (Eng) 69 74 69 70, C Devlin (NIr) 71 70 69 71, T Haylock (Eng) 70 66 71 74.
Scottish qualifier:
282 Duncan Stewart 70 68 71 73 (jt 7th).
+A total of 31 players qualified for Stage 2 with totals of 287 or better.
Scots who did not qualify:
288 Paul McKechnie 74 74 69 71.
291 Graham Gordon 76 68 72 75.
292 Graeme Lornie 72 73 71 76.