SIX SCOTS' EUROPEAN TOUR DREAMS LIKELY TO BE OVER FOR ANOTHER YEAR AFTER FOURTH ROUND CUT

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Colin@scottishgolfview.com

It's not looking good for six of the 10 Scots in the field of 156 at the EuropeanTour Final Q School at PGA Catalunya in north-east Spain.

Wednesday is the first "crunch" day because only the leading 50 and ties at the end of the fourth round will go forward to the final 36 holes over the tougher, longer par-72 Stadium Course, at the end of which the top 25 and ties will earn playing rights on next season

Only four Scots - Jack Doherty (pictured), Alastair Forsyth, Andrew McArthur and Doug McGuigan - are likely to survive the first cut.

Doherty has taken over as leading Scot, thanks to a fine, four-under-par 66 over the shorter Tour Course for a running tally of eight-under 204 and joint fifth place behind the new joint leaders on 202, England's James Morrison who shot a seven-under 63 and Sweden's Jens Dantorp who had a third-round 68.

Doherty crammed his five birdies and one bogey into the 12 holes from the third to the 14th in halves of 34 and 32.

Forsyth dropped down to a share of 11th place on 205 after a four-birdie, four-bogey par-matching 70 on the Tour Course.

McArthur (jt 40th on 209) and McGuigan (jt 49th on 210) cannot afford too many slips if they are to go on to the final 36 holes, at the end of which the leading 25 and ties will earn playing rights on next season's European Tour.

McArthur had a mixed bag of one eagle, three birdies, one double bogey and three bogeys in returning a par 70.

Clydeside-born, South African-based McGuigan had four birdies over the shorter course but his errors outnumbered his highlights - a double bogey 6 at the third plus three bogeys for a one-over 71.

West Linton's Welshman Gareth Wright fell off the straight and narrow with a six-over 76 for 213 and is sharing 77th place.

The Scots who have their backs to the wall in the fourth round are George Murray (jt 88th on 216), Scott Henry (jt 96th on 217), Neil Fenwick and Duncan Stewart (jt 120th on 220), Raymond Russell (jt 128th on 221) and Scott Drummond (jt 136th on 223).

Murray had an eagle and four birdies over the longer Stadium Course but still could do no better than match the par of 72. Why?

Well he had six bogeys, including four in a row from the sixth to the ninth.

Henry had a horrific quadruple bogey 8 at the 10th wbich all but wiped out the gain of six birdies. Five bogeys did not help his cause in a 75.

Fenwick has lost his form at the wrong time of the season. His scores are getting worse daily - 72, 73 and 75.

Stewart doesn't like the first hole on the par-72 course. It cost him a double bogey 6 on Monday and a triple bogey 7 in the third round. He returned a 75.

Russell, who played so well in Stage 2, is another who has lost his touch just when he needed it most. He had six bogeys and just one birdie in a five-over 77.

Drummond also signed for a 77 in which he was four over for the last five holes alone.

LEADING THIRD-ROUND SCORES

Stadium Course (7,333yd), par 72; Tour Course (6,610yd), par 70.

202 J Morrison (Eng) 72 67 63, J Dantorp (Swe) 66 68 68.

203 E Goya (Arg) 66 70 67, F Zanotti (Paraguay) 66 70 67

204 J Doherty (Sco) 68 70 66, D Kemmer (US) 67 70 67, S Wakefield (Eng) 69 68 67, O Stark (Swe) 66 71 67, G Lockerbie (Eng) 72 65 67, L Bjerregaard (Den) 65 70 69.

205 A Forsyth (Sco) 65 70 70, D Brooks (Eng) 65 71 69, E Espana  (Fra) 62 74 69, R Finch (Eng) 64 71 70, J Hahn (US) 66 66 73, B Stone (SAfr) 69 66 70, E Kofstad (Nor) 70 68 67, P Sjoland (Swe) 66 72 67, M Tullo (Chile) 67 70 68 (T11).

SELECTED SCORES

209 A McArthur (Sco) 66 73 70 (T40)

210 D McGuigan (Sco) 71 68 71 (T49)

213 G Wright (Wal) 72 65 76 (T77)

216 G Murray (Sco) 67 77 72 (T88)

217 S Henry (Sco) 72 70 75 (T96)

220 Neil Fenwick (Sco) 72 73 75, Duncan Stewart (Sco) 68 77 75 (T120)

221 Raymond Russell (Sco) 76 68 77 (T128)

223 Scott Drummond (Sco) 75 71 77 (T136)

REPORT FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

Tour Doors ajar for Morrison after sublime 63

England’s James Morrison climbed into a share of the lead on the third day at The European Tour’s Qualifying School Final Stage thanks to a superb best-of-the-day 63 at PGA Catalunya Resort.

The 28 year old Surrey native defied swirling winds to post eight birdies and just the one bogey to reach ten under par for the week as the leading half of the draw played the Tour Course at the stunning resort just outside of Girona, in north-eastern Spain.

Sweden’s Jens Dantorp fired a two under par  to also reach that tally following the third day’s play, while the South American pair of Estanislao Goya and Fabrizio Zanotti both shot  to remain one shot further back as the gruelling contest reached its halfway point.

Morrison, who is playing the Final Stage for the first time in five years this week after finishing 139^th in The 2013 Race to Dubai, showed some exemplary ball-striking on Tuesday in birdieing four of the five par threes and surged 39 places up the leaderboard into a share of top spot.

“It does feel good to be up the top of the board,” said the 2010 Madeira Islands Open BPI – Portugal champion. “It is always a funny week at Tour School what with us being through three rounds and still having three to go.

“You’ve just got to keep playing well and keep it ticking along while staying within a decent distance of the leaders.

“I knew today playing the Tour course that it was the last chance for a low one, I felt like I could have a good score today. We were first out too so the greens were good and I’ve been playing well for a few months without it quite clicking but it is finally starting to come around.”

This week, playing in his fourth Qualifying School Final without yet having gained his playing rights here – he eventually did ascend to The European Tour after finishing 18^th on the Challenge Tour in 2009 – Morrison said that after a disappointing campaign he is glad to be getting back on track, and over two courses which he clearly enjoys.

“I played here in the Qualifying School when it was first held here five years ago but haven’t been back since,” he continued. “The courses suit my game. They are just two good golf courses; they say the Tour is easier and I know I have shot a good score but there are still a few smelly holes out there which you need to focus on.

“And the Stadium Course is just a good test of golf. Play well and you can shoot a good score, but don’t and you can shoot a hundred – it’s a great challenge.”

Dantorp, meanwhile, said it was a grinding day but was happy to make a 16 foot birdie putt at the last to jump into a share of the lead with 54 holes remaining in Girona.

“It was a bit gusty today but I’m lucky because it’s the conditions I’m used to playing in at home – for me it’s a normal thing,” said Dantorp, who finished 21^st in the Challenge Tour rankings this year. “Today was so-so with the putting but I was pleased with that finish. It’s a great place to be in and I’m happy with where I am at the moment.”

American John Hahn failed to build on his two-shot overnight lead as he struggled to a three over par, while his compatriot Brinson Paolini shot a best-of-the-day on the challenging Stadium Course to move into a share of 26^th place on five under par.

The top  players and ties at the conclusion of the fourth round will go on to play two more times over the Stadium Course while those sharing 25^th place and better come close of play on Friday will claim a coveted European Tour card for the 2014 season.

Scores:

THIRD ROUND AGGREGATES

 

202 J Dantorp (Swe); J Morrison  (Eng);

203 F Zanotti (Par); E Goya (Arg);

204 G Lockerbie  (Eng); S Wakefield (Eng); J Doherty  (Sco); L Bjerregaard  (Den); D Kemmer (USA); O Stark (Swe);

205 M Tullo (Chi); B Stone (RSA); J Hahn (USA); E Espana (Fra); R Finch  (Eng); E Kofstad (Nor); D Brooks (Eng); A Forsyth (Sco); P Sjöland (Swe);

206 A Hartø  (Den); A Saddier (Fra); W Ormsby (Aus); M Jonzon (Swe); M Lafeber (Ned); S Manley (Wal);

207 M Lundberg (Swe); C Paisley (Eng); A Gee  (Eng); K Pratt (Aus); C Del Moral (Esp);

208 R McGee (Irl); G Stal  (Fra); M Crespi  (Ita); F Andersson Hed (Swe); M Korhonen (Fin); H Leon (Chi); S Hodgson (Eng); K Phelan (Irl);

209 B Paolini (USA); M Lorenzo-Vera (Fra); J Lagergren (Swe); B Dredge (Wal); A McArthur  (Sco); T Van Der Walt (RSA); T Whitehouse  (Eng); A Johnston (Eng); T Pieters  (Bel); C Shinkwin (am) (Eng);

210 J Lando Casanova  (Fra); D McGuigan (Sco); J Knutzon (USA); O Wilson (Eng); J Barnes (Eng); J Elson  (Eng); J Heath  (Eng); J Huldahl (Den);

211 O Floren (Swe); J Fahrbring (Swe); A Marshall (Eng); B Henson (USA); A Björk (Swe);

212 L Gagli  (Ita); T Lee (USA); K Horne (RSA); D Dixon (Eng); J Watts (Eng); A Domingo (Esp); D Higgins (Irl);

213 M Delpodio  (Ita); A Haig (RSA); C Arendell (USA)  ; N Quintarelli (Ita); E Dubois (Fra); J Robinson (Eng)  ; D Gavins (Eng); O Fisher (Eng); G Wright  (Wal);

214 A Dodt (Aus); C Bouniol (Fra); Z Scotland  (Eng); W Harrold (Eng); J Guerrier  (Fra); C Hanson (Eng);

215 P Price (Wal); D Im (USA); V Phillips (Eng); N Lemke (Swe); A Garcia-Heredia (Esp); M Grönberg (Swe); R Karlberg  (Swe); M Hensby (Aus);

216 P Edberg (Swe); C Ortiz  (Mex); W Besseling  (Ned); G Murray  (Sco); B Åkesson (Swe); J Lucquin (Fra) ; P Archer (Eng) ; A McLardy (RSA);

217 B Evans  (Eng); M Wiegele (Aut); S Henry (Sco); N Nissen (Den);

218 M Zions (Aus); Y Tsukada (Jpn); T Nørret (Den); R Davies (Wal); T Sluiter (Ned); O Lieser (Cze); D Vancsik (Arg); J Lara (Esp); C Monasterio (Arg); K Benz (Sui); D McElroy (am) (Nir);

219 J Rask (Swe); B Ritthammer (Ger); C Suneson (Esp); P Hedblom (Swe); B An (Kor); M Orrin (Eng);

220 A Maestroni  (Ita); J Ahlers (RSA); J Sjöholm (Swe); N Dougherty (Eng); N Fenwick (Sco); P Martin Benavides (Esp); D Stewart (Sco)

221 J Edfors (Swe); G Cambis  (Fra); R Russell (Sco); J Timmis (Eng); F Fritsch (Ger); S Arnold (Aus); M Brier (Aut)

222 R Steiner (Aut); R Pettersson (Swe); D Ulrich (Sui); G Main (USA)

223 O Henningsson (Swe); A Bernadet  (Fra); L Bond (Wal); O Bekker (RSA); S Drummond (Sco)

224 J Fly (USA)

225 N Ravano (Ita); K Ferrie (Eng); T Linard (Fra)

226 J Granberg (Fin); L Goddard (Eng)

229 R McGowan (Eng)

230 E Cole (USA)

234 C Dammert (am) (Ger)

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS