173 Qualify for Final Stage of PGA EuroPro 

Tour Q School next week


FROM NICK TEALE

The First Stage of HotelPlanner.com PGA EuroPro Tour Qualifying School has concluded with 173 golfers progressing to join the 67 exempt players at Final Stage, to be played at Frilford Heath Golf Club in Oxfordshire next week.

Six UK courses hosted 36-hole First Stage events, with five of the venues requiring play-offs to determine the final qualifiers.

Among the qualifiers from Chart Hills Golf Club was former footballer Jimmy Bullard (The Wisley), who was one of six players who came through an eight-man play-off having finished the tournament four-over-par for their 36 holes.

James Steven (Clydeway Golf) was the winner at Haggs Castle, where 23 players progressed without the need for a play-off. He carded a second-round 65 to finish -9 after a two-under-par 70 for his opening round.

At Caversham Heath in Reading, Sam Whitehead (Woburn Golf Club; 65, 70) won the tournament with a score of -11. William Symons took the final of 29 qualifying spots after birding the first hole of the three-man sudden-death play-off.

Six under par was the winning score for Nick Marsh (Huddersfield Golf Club; 69, 69) at Mottram Hall, where nine players had to contest a play-off for the final eight of 36 qualifying spots.

At Burhill Golf Club, Luke Johnson (King’s Lynn Golf Club) shot a second-round 65, seven under par, to win the tournament on -7. Five players contested the play-off for three spots at Final Stage, to which 36 players progressed from Burhill.

Sam Day and Sam Edwards (Bigbury Golf Club) shared the honours at The Players Club, topping the leaderboard on level par. Seven players contested the play-off for the remaining two of 22 qualifying spots.

Final Stage Qualifying School takes place at Frilford Heath Golf Club in Oxfordshire, where 240 players will play one round on each the Red and Blue Courses over Wednesday, April 6 and Thursday, April 7 before a cut to the leading 80 players and ties play a concluding 18 holes on the Blue Course on Friday, April 8.

Players are competing to earn the highest possible category on the 2016 HotelPlanner.com PGA EuroPro Tour. 

All those progressing to Final Stage will earn at least a category 14, with golfers making the Final Stage cut earning a minimum category 10 and the top 30 earning category 3.

A full list of exemption categories can be found at www.europrotour.com/about/categories

STEVEN LEADS HAGGS CASTLE QUALIFIERS FOR

FINAL STAGE OF EUROPRO TOUR Q SCHOOL

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

James Steven (Clydeway Golf) led the 23 qualifiers today (Thu) from the Stage 1 36-hole eliminator at Haggs Castle Golf Club, Glasgow to join the field for the PGA EuroPro Tour Q School Final Stage at Frilford Heath GC, Oxfordshire next week.

Steven earned the £300 top prize with scores of 70 and 65 for seven-under-par 135.

John Henry (Clydebank and District) finished second on 136 with a pair of 69s to pick up the £250 runner-up award.

Zack Saltman (Archerfield Links) won £200 for finishing third on 137 with rounds of 69 and 68.

There were five other Stage 1 two-round events held in various parts of Britain.

Former Scottish amateur champion Zander Culverwell (Dunbar) missed out with 71 and 75 for 146, one shot more than the pair who tied for 22nd place, Luigi Zenere (Monte Carlo) and James Hendrick (Pollok).

Three North-east professionals got through from the Stage 1 at Haggs Castle .

Aberdeen-born Paul Cormack, who has played in American mini-tours for a number of years, had rounds of 72 and 71 to finish tied 12th on 143.

John Duff (Newmachar) and Sean Lawrie (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) both totalled two-over-par 144 with scores of 73 and 71.

Kevin Duncan and Philip McLean, both Paul Lawrie Golf Centre players, missed the cut at 145 by several shots.

Duncan had rounds of 75 and 73 for 148. McLean shot 74 and 75 for 149.

QUALIFIERS FOR FINAL STAGE

Haggs Castle GC par 72.

135 J Steven (Clydeway Golf) 70 65 (£300).

136 J Henry (Clydebank and Dist) 69 67 (£250)

137 Z Saltman (Archerfield Links) 69 68 (£200)

138 K McAlpine (unatt) 70 68 (£150)

139 M Patterson (Kilmacolm) 70 69, F Moore (Glenbervie) 70 68 (£50 each).

140 J Wilson (Formby) 74 66

142 J Simpson (Close House) 70 72, R Campbell (Falkirk) (am) 70 74, J Breen (Kirkistown Castle) (am) 71 71, R Batchelor (Worsley Park) 74 68.

143 P Cormack (Bay Hill) 72 71, J Lynch (Tapton Park) 72 71, C Baird (Bothwell Castle) (am) 74 69, L Gaughan (Bathgate) 72 71.

144 R Robson-Crosby (Ponteland) 70 74, T Dykes (Penrith) 72 72, C Maroney (Eng) 69 75, J Duff (Newmachar) 73 71, J McGhee (unatt) 73 71, S Lawrie (Paul Lawrie GC) 73 71.

145 L Zenere (Monte Carlo) 72 73, J Hendrick (Pollok) 70 75.

ALTERNATES

146 S Binning (Ranfurly Castle) 74 72, B Craggs (Kingsfield) 74 72

MISSED THE CUT

Selected scores

146 A Culverwell (Dunbar) 71 75

147 G O'Neill (Dullatur) 73 74

148 S Stewart-Cation (Kingsbarns PA) 70 78, C Trahan (unatt) 76 72, K Duncan (Paul Lawrie GC) 75 73

149 P McLean (Paul Lawrie GC) 75 74

150 M Stokes (Cawder) 73 77, G Duncan (unatt) 75 75

152 I Redford (St Andrews New) 75 77

154 C West (Scotscraig) 78 76

155 R Colsh (Bearsden) 77 78

160 G Orton (unatt) 78 72

167 S Coia (unatt) 82 85.

To view all the scores in the PGA EuroPro Tour Q School Stage 1 event over 36 holes at Haggs Castle


CLICK HERE