SIX ROUNDS OF GOLFING TORTURE IS OVER AT PGA CATALUNYA

ALASTAIR FORSYTH AND JACK DOHERTY GAIN EURO CARDS AFTER NERVY FINISH

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Ten Scots set out on the golfing marathon that is the European Tour Final Qualifying School - and only two Jack Doherty and Alastair Forsyth finished among the top 27 who gained playing rights on the 2014 Tour.
Doherty and Forysth, seemingly in the comfort zone after five rounds in the end had to fight off last-day nerves and only just made the grade on the limit mark of nine-under-par for 108 holes.
For the two other Scots in the last-day mix over the long and testing Stadium Course (par 72) at PGA Catalunya, near Girona in north-east Spain - Andrew McArthur and Doug McGuigan - there was only disappointment that they failed by two and three shots respectively after six rounds in a pressure-cooker situation.

If the Open is so much more important than the Final Q School, why do they play it over four rounds and the Q School over six?
Doherty and Forsyth both finished on the limit qualifying mark of nine-under-par 419 to figure among the 27 who will be promoted to the top grade.

Doherty signed off with a one-under-par 71 over the Stadium Course. A double bogey 6 - his third in three days - at the ninth put him under pressure. His fourth and last birdie, at the long 12th, meant he had to cover the last six holes in no higher than one-over-par ... which he did with a bogey at the 14th and four nervy pars over the last four holes.

Forsyth's early good work in the six-round marathon stood him in good stead when the wheels came off - comparatively - with a two-over-par 74 in the final round. He had three double bogey 6s: at the fourth, ninth and 14th.

But he also had five birdies and that enabled him to stand on the 18th tee, knowing he could afford to bogey it - which he did - and still make the grade.

McArthur totalled 421 - two shots too many - and finished joint 31st from a starting field of 156. A good effort but not quite good enough. He finished with a one-under-par 71.

Clydeside-born, South Africa-based McGuigan matched the par of 72 - his highest score of the week -  on the last circuit to finish joint 37th on 422.

EUROPEAN TOUR FINAL QUALIFYING SCHOOL

PGA Catalunya Golf Resort, nr Girona, North-east Spain

FINAL TOTALS

Par 428 (4x72, 2x70)

TOP 27 PLAYERS WHO GAINED 2014

EUROPEAN TOUR PLAYING RIGHTS

402 Carlos del Moral (Spa) 67 71 69 63 65 67

407 Fabrizio Zanotti (Para) 66 70 67 68 68 68

413 Marco Crespi (Ita) 71 70 67 68 67 70

414 Gary Stal (Fra) 71 68 69 68 68 70

415 John Hahn (US) 66 66 73 68 71 71, Mikael Lundberg (Swe) 69 68 70 71 66 71, Adrien Saddier (Fra) 71 66 69 71 67 71

416 Connor Arendell (US) 72 70 71 65 70 68, Wade Ormsby (Aus) 69 67 70 69 70 71, Stuart Manley (Wal) 68 71 67 69 69 72, James Morrison (Eng) 72 67 63 70 71 73

417 Simon Wakefield (Eng) 69 68 67 69 75, James Heath (Eng) 69 71 70 69 69 69, Jens Dantorp (Swe) 66 68 68 72 73, Patrick Sjoland (Swe) 66 72 67 67 73 72, Brinson Paolini (US) 70 71 68 64 72 72

418 Kevan Phelan (Ire) 73 67 68 71 70 69, Daniel Brooks (Eng) 65 71 69 66 76 71, Andreas Harto (Den) 67 70 69 72 69 71, Lucas Bjerregaard (Den) 65 70 69 69 72 73, Thomas Pieters (Ger) 64 73 72 68 68 73

419 Jack Doherty (Sco) 68 70 66 71 71 71, Alastair Forsyth (Sco) 65 70 70 69 71 74, Estanislao Goya (Arg) 66 70 67 73 72 71, Jason Knutzon (US) 70 69 71 69 69 71, Adam Gee (Enbg) 66 70 71 69 69 74, Mikko Korhonen (Fin) 69 71 68 70 70 71

MISSED THE CUT

421 Andrew McArthur (Sco) 66 73 70 73 68 71 (T31)

422 Doug McGuigan (Sco) 71 68 71 70 70 72 (T37).

    Carlos del Moral with the Qualifying School winner's trophy
               Picture by courtesy of Getty Images(c)

Moral victory for Carlos in dramatic Q-School finale

REPORT FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

Carlos Del Moral romped to a five-shot victory at The European Tour’s Qualifying School Final Stage on a dramatic day of twists and turns at PGA Catalunya Resort, where 27 players from 15 countries earned their place on The 2014 Race to Dubai.

It was another stunning round over the Stadium Course, a five under par 67, which sealed glory for the Spaniard, who has now qualified from the Final Stage four times in the past six years.

While he was storming to the title, though, there was plenty more drama unfolding further down the leaderboard.

The childhood dreams of many were realised after an enthralling finale to the gruelling six-round marathon in Girona, north-eastern Spain, while others were left disappointed when the cut-mark for European Tour promotion eventually dropped at nine under par.

Of those who made the grade, there were five European Tour winners - Scot Alastair Forsyth, who endured a roller-coaster two over par round of 74 which included three double-bogeys and five birdies before making it on the mark, Swedes Mikael Lundberg and Patrik Sjöland, as well as England’s James Morrison and Estanislao Goya of Argentina.

Some of the big names to narrowly miss out included former Ryder Cup player Oliver Wilson, who was two shots short, and former European Tour winners Oliver Fisher of England and Welshman Bradley Dredge, who missed by three and four shots respectively.

Ten of those who qualified will be playing their rookie seasons in the top tier of European golf next season, including a number of former amateur prodigies such as 2013 Walker Cup player Kevin Phelan of Ireland and Belgium’s Thomas Pieters, who impressed on the American collegiate circuit.

Following the recent success stories on The European Tour of Americans Peter Uihlein and Brooks Koepka, a record four USA natives also qualified, three of whom are under the age of 25.

But it was Del Moral who took the plaudits after three successive sub-68 rounds over the Neil Coles and Angel Gallardo-designed Stadium Course and he was delighted to become the first Spanish winner of the Final Stage since Carlos Rodiles in 2006.

“It feels very special to be the winner of this event,” said the 28 year old, who finished the week 26 under par. “It’s such a long week and after the year I have gone through it is a pay-off for all the hard work.

“Sometimes you feel like it’s all a waste but it is showing now and hopefully I can keep up the good work for the next few weeks in South Africa and for the 2014 season.”

Fabrizio Zanotti finished runner-up after a four under par final round of 68 left him on 21 under for the tournament while Italian Marco Crespi finished six shots further back in third place on 15 under.

Further down the leaderboard, Phelan provided one of the biggest success stories of the final round after the 22 year old, who won two out of three points at the most recent Walker Cup in September and made the cut at this year’s US Open Championship, climbed from outside the cut mark on day six to earn a rookie season on The European Tour.

He sealed his place at the top table of European golf in some style, firing a stupendous approach at the par four 18^th to five feet before sinking the putt for birdie to rubber-stamp the 17^th card.

The Waterford native revealed afterwards that some advice from three-time Major winner Padraig Harrington played a big part in his rapid rise from the amateur game, having been the subject of so much hype and expectation.

“I have been told a couple of times not to read anything that has been written about me,” said Phelan, the only player to have jumped from outside the cut mark on day six to claim a card. “I haven’t done that in a couple of years now so I don’t really pay any attention to expectations that are put on me, just what I put on myself.

“Harrington said it to me a while ago and my coach Mark McCumber tells me all the time. It definitely helped a lot.

“Padraig is definitely a big inspiration for me. I played a practice round with him at the US Open the first time I played it and at the Irish Open in Killarney and again at Carton House this year. He’s been very nice and very helpful and I've always looked up to him so it’s nice to get some good feedback from him. I look forward to joining him on The European Tour.”

FINAL SIX-ROUND TOTALS

Par 428 (2x70, 4x72)

402 C Del Moral (Esp) 67 71 69 63 65 67;

407 F Zanotti (Par) 66 70 67 68 68 68;

413 M Crespi  (Ita) 71 70 67 68 67 70;

414 G Stal  (Fra) 71 68 69 68 68 70;

415 M Lundberg (Swe) 69 68 70 71 66 71; A Saddier (Fra) 71 66 69 71 67 71; J Hahn (USA) 66 66 73 68 71 71;

416 C Arendell (USA) 72 70 71 65 70 68; W Ormsby (Aus) 69 67 70 69 70 71; S Manley (Wal) 68 71 67 69 69 72; J Morrison  (Eng) 72 67 63 70 71 73;

417 J Heath  (Eng) 69 71 70 69 69 69; S Wakefield (Eng) 69 68 67 69 75 69; J Dantorp (Swe) 66 68 68 72 73 70; B Paolini (USA) 70 71 68 64 72 72; P Sjöland (Swe) 66 72 67 67 73 72;

418 K Phelan (Irl) 73 67 68 71 70 69; A Hartø  (Den) 67 70 69 72 69 71; D Brooks (Eng) 65 71 69 66 76 71; T Pieters  (Bel) 64 73 72 68 68 73; L Bjerregaard  (Den) 65 70 69 69 72 73;

419 J Knutzon (USA) 70 69 71 69 69 71; M Korhonen (Fin) 69 71 68 70 70 71; E Goya (Arg) 66 70 67 73 72 71; J Doherty  (Sco) 68 70 66 71 73 71; A Gee  (Eng) 66 70 71 69 69 74; A Forsyth (Sco) 65 70 70 69 71 74;

Players above earned European Tour status for 2014

420 T Van Der Walt (RSA) 72 69 68 71 69 71; E Kofstad (Nor) 70 68 67 72 71 72; E Espana (Fra) 62 74 69 67 74 74;

421 B Henson (USA) 71 70 70 68 73 69; C Bouniol (Fra) 73 70 71 66 71 70; J Barnes (Eng) 66 72 72 69 72 70; A McArthur  (Sco) 66 73 70 73 68 71; O Wilson (Eng) 69 67 74 68 71 72; O Stark (Swe) 66 71 67 71 72 74;

422 H Leon (Chi) 68 70 70 72 71 71; D McGuigan (Sco) 71 68 71 70 70 72; R Karlberg  (Swe) 66 77 72 65 69 73;

423 O Fisher  (Eng) 72 69 72 67 73 70; M Grönberg (Swe) 75 67 73 66 71 71; C Hanson (Eng) 66 77 71 66 70 73; C Paisley  (Eng) 67 70 70 70 71 75;

424 B Dredge (Wal) 68 71 70 68 74 73; D Im (USA) 70 73 72 64 71 74; N Quintarelli (Ita) 68 74 71 62 74 75; F Andersson Hed (Swe) 69 68 71 69 71 76;

425 A Marshall (Eng) 71 70 70 69 72 73; R Finch  (Eng) 64 71 70 72 75 73; M Lafeber (Ned) 71 68 67 71 72 76;

426 M Jonzon (Swe) 64 72 70 71 76 73; A Johnston (Eng) 67 73 69 71 72 74; G Lockerbie  (Eng) 72 65 67 73 75 74; A Dodt (Aus) 71 71 72 67 70 75; M Tullo (Chi) 67 70 68 71 72 78;

427 C Shinkwin (am) (Eng) 68 70 71 73 75 70; Z Scotland  (Eng) 71 74 69 67 71 75; B Stone (RSA) 69 66 70 72 74 76;

428 D Higgins (Irl) 67 73 72 70 74 72; B Evans  (Eng) 71 77 69 65 73 73; M Hensby (Aus) 69 77 69 67 70 76; M Lorenzo-Vera  (Fra) 67 73 69 71 72 76;

429 T Lee (USA) 64 75 73 64 74 79; D Kemmer (USA) 67 70 67 72 73 80;

430 J Huldahl (Den) 72 68 70 72 73 75;

431 R McGee (Irl) 70 66 72 74 75 74; K Pratt (Aus) 71 66 70 75 74 75; J Lando Casanova  (Fra) 76 65 69 70 72 79;

432 K Horne (RSA) 72 68 72 68 75 77;

433 L Gagli  (Ita) 74 66 72 70 74 77;

435 J Elson  (Eng) 64 74 72 72 73 80;

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS