FULL CHALLENGE TOUR STATUS GAINED

DUNCAN STEWART'S SILVER LINING TO
 
 FAILING TO MAKE Q SCHOOL TOP 25

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Duncan Stewart (joint 43rd on 425) pictured right, Peter Whiteford (jt 50th on 426) and Scott Henry (71st on 430) failed to make the top 25 and ties at seven-under-par 421 and better in the European Tour Final Qualifying School at PGA Catalunya but Stewart was last night looking on the positive side after six mentally and physically exhausting rounds of golf at the north-east Spain venue.
Said Grantown on Spey's Stewart:
"I'm thrilled with my overall result after the season I've had. Going into Stage 2 of the qualifying process and only having limited status. then shooting three over in the first round, I thought I was done.
"But I made it through Stage 2 and now I've turned it around at the Final Stage and by making the final day, I've gained full Challenge Tour status and limited appearances on the European Tour.
"I could sit here and say I'm gutted not tp finish in the top 25 but I was fighting my swing all week and was not at my best. I'd put my fourth-round 68 up there as one of my best ever.
"Over the whole six days. I have never been so stressed or nervous on the course before because everything was at stake. In my eyes it is job done and gives me a good go at it again next year. "


LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 428 (4x72, 2x70)
408 Mikko Korhonen (Fin) 72 65 65 71 68 67
410 Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg) 68 68 65 72 70 67
412 Renato Paratore (Ita) 67 70 66 69 67 73
413 Matt Ford (Eng) 74 64 65 68 72 70

SCOTS' TOTALS
Par 428 (4x72, 2x70)
425 Duncan Stewart 67 76 71 68 74 69 (T43)
426 Peter Whiteford 77 66 65 73 75 70 (T50)
430 Scott Henry 70 72 68 73 75 72 (T75).