Alps Tour Qualifying School 2017 La Cala Resort - Asia and America Courses (Malaga, Spain) 14-16 December 2017

Aberdonian Lutton joint third after first round 69 in strong wind     Clarke Lutton, wind-taming performance on Costa del Sol

The La Cala Resort at Malaga on Spain's Costa Del Sol is the venue for the 54-hole Alps Tour Qualifying School. This venue offers wonderful facilities, hotel on site, great practice range and three championship golf courses. The Final Stage with a field of 144 players from 21 nationalities has begun in windy conditions.

South Africa’s Albert Venter, pictured above left, shot -6 on the par-71 America course to lead after first day of Q-School Final. The 21 year old player won the first stage a couple days ago and kept his momentum going into the final stage. The wind was strong and fresh on Costa del Sol today but he managed to keep the ball in play as he said. « The course looks alike some in South Africa. It is a bit shorter but it is narrow and you have to keep the ball in play. I am happy to keep on playing well. I have some experience of playing in the wind, in Scotland for example. I played some event on European Tour, (Dunhill Links) but I missed the first stage by one so I am here to play in Europe next year.  Venter just turned pro 2 months back. He was third at the Amateur ranking in South Africa. Spain’s Ivan Cantero Gutierrez signed for best score on the par-72 Asia course with -4. Only one shot back, Italy’s Federico Zucchetti and Aberdeen-born Clarke Lutton, who both played on Asia course (par 72). Fellow Scots Ewen Ferguson and Craig Ross both shot 70s, Ferguson on the par-72 course, Surprisingly, Bathgate's Louis Gaughan, winner of the inaugural Scottish Par-3 3 championship at the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre, Banchory Devenick and a player who looked in form at the Alps Tour Q School Stage 1 event, slumped to a 11 over par 83 and  has little chance of figuring among the leading 65 and ties who will progress after Friday's Round 2 to the final 18 holes. Even veteran Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez struggled a little bit to return a 77 but is within the qualifying zone at the moment The top 65 and ties will make the cut after the second round is completed, the current limit is +4.