30th October 2019 (Updated – 11th November 2019)

The focus of this article is SECOND STAGE QUALIFYING which started on Thursday 7th November at Alenda Golf, Club de Golf Bonmont, Desert Springs GC and Las Colinas G&CC, all in Spain.

My interest primarily lies with all of the amateurs, Great British and Irish (GB&I) professionals, First Stage Qualifying medalists and a few other overseas ‘players of interest’.

The four competitions were played concurrently over 72 holes with no cut. The Alenda and Bonmont events required an extra day to complete due to high winds.

325 players started Second Stage with 93 (28.6%) of these hailing from Great Britain and Ireland (GB&I). 18 players competed as amateurs.

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A total of 79 qualifying spots were allocated to Second Stage by the European Tour this year. 

3 alternates were also determined from each site to deal with any subsequent withdrawals from Final Stage.

23 GB&I players out of the 93 competing progressed to Final Stage which starts later this week.

Bjarki PETURSSON (ISL) was the only amateur to progress from Second Stage. Having come through the First Stage qualifier at Fleesensee in Germany he finished tied 8th at Golf Bonmont to earn his shot at the big time.

Interestingly 95 qualifying places were made available for Second Stage in 2018. This was because only 61 players were exempt into Final Stage last year whereas the number in 2019 was originally estimated at 77.

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Here are the results from the four European Tour Second Stage Q-School events with my selected players listed with their previous 2019 Q-School performances also shown in italics: –

1. ALENDA GOLF, ALICANTE – 6,843 yards, Par 72

Click here for the full Alenda – RESULTS

Qualifiers – 20 spots
Alternates – 3 (3rd, 7th and 11th) 

Entries – 81 players (+ 2 WD’s before play started) with 4 amateurs

Qualified
Jarand Ekelund ARNOY (NOR) -11 WINNER – 1st Stage Stoke by Nayland, England
Tom GANDY (IoM) -6 3rd – 1st Stage Hardelot, France
David DIXON (ENG) -4 T4
Jordan WRISDALE (ENG) -4 T4
Ben HUTCHINSON (ENG) TURNED PRO 9/19 -3 T7 – 1st Stage Frilford Heath, England
Niall KEARNEY (IRE) -1 T15
Toby TREE (ENG) -1 T15
Daniel GAVINS (ENG) -1 T15

Not-Qualified
Matt FORD (ENG) +1 T23
Max ORRIN (ENG) +2 T26
Jordan GIBB (ENG) +3 T29
Rhys DAVIES (WAL) +5 T37
Paul MADDY (ENG) +5 T37
David LANGLEY (ENG) TURNED PRO 9/19 +6 T40 – 1st Stage Frilford Heath, England
Harrison ENDYCOTT (AUS) +6 T40
Harry ELLIS (ENG) +6 T40 – 1st Stage Ebreichsdorf, Austria
Jamie MOUL (ENG) +8 T47
Luke DONNELLY (IRE) +12 56th
Ronan MULLARNEY (IRE) AM +13 T57 – 1st Stage Bom Sucesso, Portugal
Joe MACILWRAITH (ENG) AM +16 T59 – 1st Stage Frilford Heath, England
Brandon DIETZEL (GER) AM +22 61st – 1st Stage Ebreichsdorf, Austria
Samuel ROBERTSHAWE (ENG) – WD after Rd 3 (+5)
Richard MANSELL (ENG) WD after Rd 3 (+6)
Bradley NEIL (SCO) WD after Rd 3 (+6)
Daniel BRENNAN (IRE) WD after Rd 3 (+9)
Kris NICOL (SCO) WD after Rd 3 (+10)
Chris LLOYD (ENG) WD after Rd 2 (+4)
Hugo BERNARD (CAN) WD after Rd 2 (+11) – 1st Stage Hardelot, France
Scott HENRY (SCO) WD after Rd 2 (+11)
Sam BROADHURST (ENG) AM WD after Rd 2 (+13) – 1st Stage The Players Club, England
Chris DOAK (SCO) WD after Rd 2 (+14)
Nick MCCARTHY (ENG) WD before Rd 1

2 players, Magnus ATLEVI (SWE) and Nick MCCARTHY (ENG), withdrew from the Alenda qualifier prior to play commencing on Day 1 and are therefore not included in the 325 number above.

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2. CLUB DE GOLF BONMONT, TARRAGONA – 6,976 yards, Par 72

Click here for the full Bonmont – RESULTS

Qualifiers – 19 spots
Alternates – 3 (1st, 5th and 9th)

Entries – 80 players with 5 amateurs

Qualified
Aron ZEMMER (ITA) -12 WINNER – 1st Stage Bogogno, Italy
Jonathan CALDWELL (NI) -9 3rd
David MICHELUZZI (AUS) TURNED PRO 10/19 -7 T5
Lauri RUUSKA (FIN) -7 T5 – 1st Stage Fleesensee, Germany WINNER
Bjarki PETURSSON (ISL) AM -5 T8 – 1st Stage Fleesensee, Germany
Chris CANNON (ENG) -4 T12
Dave COUPLAND (ENG) -4 T12
Robin DAWSON (IRE) -4 T12
Will ENEFER (ENG) -4 T12 – 1st Stage Fleesensee, Germany
Jonathan THOMSON (ENG) -4 T12

Not-Qualified
Jack DAVIDSON (WAL) -1 T22 – 1st Stage Stoke-by-Nayland, England WINNER
Matthew NIXON (ENG) -1 T22
Ryan LUMSDEN (SCO) TURNED PRO 9/19 -1 T22 – 1st Stage The Players Club, England
Justin HICKS (USA) Ev T29 – 1st Stage Bogogno, Italy CO–WINNER
Bradley MOORE (ENG) Ev T29
John PARRY (ENG) Ev T29
Stefano MAZZOLI (ITA) +1 36th – 1st Stage Bogogno, Italy
William HARROLD (ENG) +3 T39
Ben JONES (ENG) AM +4 41st – 1st Stage Frilford Heath, England
Sam LOCKE (SCO) +6 T44 – 1st Stage Hardelot, France WINNER
Blake COLLYER (AUS) TURNED PRO 9/19 +6 T44 – 1st Stage Frilford Heath, England
David HAGUE (ENG) AM +8 T50 – 1st Stage Stoke-by-Nayland, England
Jannik DE BRUYN (GER) AM +10 53rd – 1st Stage Fleesensee, Germany
Daniel HILLIER (NZL) TURNED PRO 9/19 +11 T54 – 1st Stage The Players Club, England WINNER
John HENRY (SCO) +11 T54
Tyler HOGARTY (IRE) +12 T58
Stuart MANLEY (WAL) WD after Rd 3 (Ev)
Chris GANE (ENG) WD after Rd 3 (+3)
Laurie OWEN (ENG) AM WD after Rd 3 (+6) – 1st Stage Frilford Heath, England
Michael BULLEN (ENG) WD after Rd 3 (+8)
Mitch WAITE (ENG) WD after Rd 3 (+15) – 1st Stage The Players Club, England
Chris HANSON (ENG) WD after Rd 2 (+2)
Ruaidhri MCGEE (IRE) WD after Rd 2 (+3)

3. DESERT SPRINGS GOLF CLUB, ALMERÍA – 6,745 yards, Par 72

Click here for the full Desert Springs – RESULTS

Qualifiers – 20 spots
Alternates – 3 (4th, 8th and 12th)

Entries – 81 players with 4 amateurs

Qualified
Blake WINDRED (AUS) TURNED PRO 10/19 -10 WINNER
Daniel YOUNG (SCO) -2 T7
Ben BRISCOE (WAL) Ev T11 – 1st Stage Arlandastad, Sweden
Louis HIRST (ENG) Ev T11
Scott GREGORY (ENG) +1 16th
Garrick PORTEOUS (ENG) +2 T17 after 6 for 4 play-off

Not-Qualified
Lukas LIPOLD (AUT) TURNED PRO 9/19 +3 T23 – 1st Stage Ebreichsdorf, Austria
Jamie RUTHERFORD (ENG) +3 T23
Marc HAMMER (GER) AM +3 T23 – 1st Stage Bogogno, Italy
Joshua MCMAHON (ENG) TURNED PRO 9/19 +4 T28 – 1st Stage Stoke-by-Nayland, England
Thriston LAWRENCE (RSA) +7 T42 – 1st Stage Stoke-by-Nayland, England
Rodoldfo CAZAUBON JNR (MEX) +8 T46 – 1st Stage Bom Sucesso, Portugal WINNER
Jesper KENNEGARD (SWE) +8 T46 – 1st Stage Frilford Heath, England WINNER
Jeong Weon KO (FRA) AM +9 51st – 1st Stage Bogogno, Italy
Runar ARNORSSON (ISL) AM +10 T52 – 1st Stage Fleesensee, Germany
Jack HARRISON (ENG) +10 T52
Joe DEAN (ENG) +11 T55
David BOOTE (WAL) +11 T55
David CAREY (IRL) +11 T55 – 1st Stage Bogogno, Italy CO-WINNER
Paul FERRIER (SCO) +12 T58
Brett BEAZANT (ENG) +14 T63
Oliver CLARKE (ENG) +18 69th – 1st Stage Fleesensee, Germany
Alex HIETALA (FIN) AM +21 T71 – 1st Stage Ebreichsdorf, Austria
Alfie PLANT (ENG) WD after Rd 3 (+11)
Etienne BRAULT (CAN) TURNED PRO 9/19 WD after Rd 3 (+15) – 1st Stage Hardelot, France (+15)
Kenneth FERRIE (ENG) WD after Rd 1 (+2)

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4. LAS COLINAS GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB, ALICANTE – 6,974 yards, Par 71

Click here for the full Las Colinas – RESULTS

Qualifiers – 20 spots
Alternates – 3 (2nd, 6th and 10th)

Entries – 83 players with 5 amateurs

Qualified
Jimmy JONES (CAN) -8 WINNER
Wilco NIENABER (RSA) TURNED PRO 7/19 -7 2nd – 1st Stage Frilford Heath, England
Craig HOWIE (SCO) -5 3rd – 1st Stage Ebreichsdorf, Austria
Thomas ROSENMÜLLER (GER) TURNED PRO 10/19 -2 T6 – 1st Stage Ebreichsdorf, Austria
Gary KING (ENG) -2 T6
Marcus ARMITAGE (ENG) -1 T9
Björn HELLGREN (SWE) -1 T9 – 1st Stage Arlandastad, Sweden WINNER
Michael HOEY (N.I.) Ev T14
Euan WALKER (SCO) TURNED PRO 9/19 Ev T14

Not-Qualified
Andreas HILLERSBORG (DEN) AM +2 T24 – 1st Stage Fleesensee, Germany
James ALLAN (ENG) +2 T24 – 1st Stage Bogogno, Italy
Jamie DICK (ENG) +3 T28 – 1st Stage Stoke-by-Nayland, England
Jack AYRES (ENG) +3 T28
Conor O’ROURKE (IRL) +3 T28 – 1st Stage Bogogno, Italy
Todd CLEMENTS (ENG) +4 T32
Duncan STEWART (SCO) +4 T32
Nathan KIMSEY (ENG) +5 T34
Bailey GILL (ENG) TURNED PRO 9/19 +9 T48 – 1st Stage Frilford Heath, England
Jake BURNAGE (ENG) TURNED PRO 9/19 +9 T48 – 1st Stage Frilford Heath, England
Craig ROSS (SCO) +9 T48
Ryan EVANS (ENG) +10 T52
Yannik EMMERT (GER) AM +10 T52 – 1st Stage Fleesensee, Germany
Steve SURRY (ENG) +11 T55
Alex CHRISTIE (ENG) AM +12 T60 – 1st Stage Hardelot, France
Kyle MICHEL (AUS) TURNED PRO 11/19 +12 T60 – 1st Stage The Players Club, England
Marcus HELLIGKILDE (DEN) +14 63rd – 1st Stage Ebreichsdorf, Austria WINNER
JR GALBRAITH (NI) +15 64th – 1st Stage Frilford Heath, England
Ben TALBOT (ENG) +16 T65
Robin WILLIAMS (ENG) AM +18 T69 – 1st Stage Stoke-by-Nayland, England
Tom MURRAY (ENG) WD after Rd 3 (+9)
Jack SOUTH (ENG) WD after Rd 3 (+11)
Haider HUSSAIN (ENG) AM WD after Rd 3 (+18) – 1st Stage The Players Club, England
Marco PENGE (ENG) WD after Rd 2 (+9) – 1st Stage Hardelot, France
Andrew WILSON (ENG) WD after Rd 1 (+7)

108 holes will now be played at Lumine GC between 15-20 November in Final Stage Qualifying with the Top 25 finishers securing a European Tour card for the 2019/20 season.

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THE 2019 EUROPEAN TOUR QUALIFYING SCHOOL SERIES

The European Tour Qualifying School was first played in 1976, four years after the European Tour was founded. What started out as a 72 hole sprint has grown into potentially a 252 hole marathon.

Nowadays there are three stages of stroke play qualifying, First, Second and Final.

The 2019 European Tour Q-School entrance fee is £1,800 or €2,030 (2018: €2,000).

Some entrants are exempted straight into Second Stage or Final Stage based on their past results and ranking.

First Stage

First Stage consisted of nine 72 hole stroke play qualifying events split into five Sections, A, B, C, D and E.

A total of 842 players contested First Stage Qualifying this year with 185 (22%) progressing to Second Stage. 83 of these were amateurs with a further 17 newly turned professionals. Of the First Stage qualifiers 22 started out as amateurs.

Around 20% of each field, between 15-30 players, progress from each event. The actual number of places are confirmed after all the players have teed off on Day 1.

A 54-hole cut, where players need to be within 7 shots of the final allocated qualifying place, reduces the field for the final round. Ties for the final qualifying place at the end of play proceed too.

For a recap on the nine First Stage competitions played between 3rd September and 12th October please read my earlier article – European Tour Q-School – 2019 First Stage Preview & Results

Second Stage

The Second Qualifying Stage consisted of four separate 72-hole events played at Alenda Golf, Club de Golf Bonmont, Desert Springs GC and Las Colinas G&CC, all in Spain, concurrently on 7th-10th November 2019. The Alenda and Bonmont events required a fifth day due to strong winds.

183 of the 185 First Stage qualifiers were joined at Second Stage by those players who were exempt from the preliminary round due to their performances on the 2019 European Tour, Challenge Tour and other feeder / satellite tours.

The two missing First Stage qualifiers were, James NICHOLAS (USA) AM (1st Stage Bom Sucesso, Portugal) and Jordan NIEBRUGGE (USA) (1st Stage, Stoke-by-Nayland, England), who withdrew from the European Tour Qualifying Series after also qualifying for the Second Stage of the Korn Ferry Qualifying Series. Their two US qualifiers were played on 5th-8th November so understandably they chose to play in these. One would have hoped the two Tours could have managed their diaries a little bit better to avoid such clashes.

Exemptions into Second Stage were also given to the leading five Q-School entrants as at 21st August 2019, up to a limit of 15th place, in the Men’s World Amateur Golf Ranking. As a result of this David MICHELUZZI (AUS) and Euan WALKER (SCO) were both exempted into Second Stage this year.

Around 25% of each field, normally 20-30 players, progress from each event. The actual number of places are confirmed after all the players have teed off on Day 1 of each event.

Final Stage

The Final Qualifying Stage consists of 108 holes on the Lakes and Hills Courses at Lumine GC in Tarragona, Spain. Lumine replaced PGA Catalunya Resort in 2017 and will be hosting Final Stage for the second consecutive year. This competition will be played on 15th-20th November 2019.

The leading 25 players (plus those tied for 25th place) in the Final Stage competition will earn Full Membership of The European and Challenge Tours for the 2019 season. On average over the last 5 years the medalist has received 29 European Tour starts whilst the 25th qualifier has garnered 19. Every finishing place matters.

Those who make the 72 hole cut but finish outside the Top 25 will also earn a membership category on the European Challenge Tour.

ME.

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