Category Archives: DP World Tour Q-School

European Tour Q-School 2015 – First Stage Results

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15th September – 9th October 2015

The 2015 European Tour Qualifying School started on 15th September with 8 First Stage events completed during the period to 9th October.

778 players, each paying an entrance fee of €1,800, contested these 8 events with 275 (35%) coming from GB&I.

There were 195 qualifiers to the Second Stage – 25% of the total field – with 71 GB&I players progressing.  This represented 36% of the total qualifiers and 26% of the GB&I entrants.

A list of the 71 GB&I Amateurs and Pros that remain in this golfing marathon is provided below. I have specifically highlighted in bold all of the Amateurs and newly turned Pros.

Four Second Stage events will be held concurrently in Spain between the 6th-9th November.  Additional GB&I players who have pre-qualified will join the Qualifying School process at this point too.

For the full European Tour Q-School Schedule take a look at the Golf Bible Q-School Page.

FIRST QUALIFYING STAGE – RESULTS

SECTION A – THE ROXBURGHE, SCOTLAND (15-18 September)
21 QUALIFIERS / 82 PLAYERS

GB&I Qualifiers
1. Jonathan Caldwell NIR  -16 WINNER
2. Matthew Cort ENG  -11
3. Chris Rodgers ENG  -11
4. Rhys Enoch WAL  -10
5. Rory McNamara IRL  -9
6. Ben Stow ENG  -9
7. Alan Dunbar NIR  -8
8. Mark Hillson SCO  -8
9. Gary Hurley IRL  -6
10. Colm Campbell (AM) IRL  -5
11. Richard Kilpatrick NIR  -4
12. Kris Gray ENG  -3
13. Daniel Young (AM) SCO  -3
14. Levi Desmond ENG  -2
15. Jack Harrison ENG  -2
16. Mark Young ENG  -2
17. Brian Casey IRL  -1
18. Neil Henderson SCO  -1

Click here for the Full Roxburghe Results – European Tour Website

SECTION A – FLEESENSEE, GERMANY (15-18 September)
29 QUALIFIERS / 100 PLAYERS

GB&I Qualifiers
19. Benjamin Henry Poke ENG  -11
20. Will Roebuck ENG  -6

Click here for the Full Fleesensee Results – European Tour Website

SECTION B – EBREICHSDORF, AUSTRIA (22-25 September)
23 QUALIFIERS / 94 PLAYERS

GB&I Qualifiers
21. Jack Hume (AM) IRL  -11
22. Paul Dunne IRL  -10

Click here for the Full Ebreichsdorf Results – European Tour Website

SECTION B – COLLINGTREE PARK, ENGLAND (22-25 September)
23 QUALIFIERS / 102 PLAYERS

GB&I Qualifiers
23. Bradley Neil SCO  -10
24. Ryan O’Neill ENG  -9
25. Matthew Southgate ENG  -8
26. Charlie Ford ENG  -8
27. Tom Hayward ENG  -8
28. Liam Bond WAL  -8
29. Paul Reed ENG  -7
30. Daniel Gavins ENG  -6
31. Jamie Elson ENG  -5
32. Luke Johnson ENG  -4
33. Jimmy Mullen ENG  -3
34. Thomas Murtagh ENG  -2
35. Michael Stewart SCO  -2
36. James Watts ENG  -2
37. Liam Harper ENG  -2
38. Jordan Wrisdale ENG  -2

Click here for the Full Collingtree Park Results – European Tour Website

European Tour QS

SECTION C – RIBAGOLFE, PORTUGAL (29-2 October)
22 QUALIFIERS / 100 PLAYERS

GB&I Qualifiers
39. Gavin Moynihan IRL  -9
40. Thomas Shadbolt ENG  -3

Click here for the Full Ribagolfe Results – European Tour Website

SECTION C – HARDELOT, FRANCE (29-2 October)
25 QUALIFIERS / 105 PLAYERS

GB&I Qualifiers
41. Jason Levermore ENG  -9
42. James Maw ENG  -7
43. Michael McGeady IRE  -6
44. Garry Houston WAL  -6
45. Peter Tarver-Jones ENG  -4
46. Matt Wallace ENG  -4
47. Alex Wrigley ENG  -1

Click here for the Full Hardelot Results – European Tour Website

SECTION D – BOGOGNO, ITALY (6-9 October)
25 QUALIFIERS / 101 PLAYERS

GB&I Qualifiers
None

Click here for the Full Bogogno Results – European Tour Website

SECTION D – FRILFORD HEATH, ENGLAND (6-9 October)
27 QUALIFIERS / 96 PLAYERS

GB&I Qualifiers
48. Laurie Canter ENG  -12 WINNER
49. Zane Scotland ENG  -11
50. Jordan Smith ENG  -8
51. Tomasz Anderson ENG  -7
52. Jake Shepherd ENG  -7
53. Nathan Kimsey ENG  -6
54. Joshua White ENG  -6
55. Ashton Turner (AM) ENG  -5
56. Mark Laskey WAL  -5
57. Jamie Rutherford ENG  -5
58. Nick Marsh ENG  -3
59. Nick Watson (AM) ENG  -2
60. Sam Whitehead ENG  -1
61. Ben Wheeler ENG  E
62. Paul Shields SCO  +1
63. Ben Rawsthorne ENG  +1
64. Lee Clarke ENG  +1
65. Craig Lawrie SCO  +1
66. Patrick Ruff ENG  +2
67. Ricky Brackenbury ENG  +2
68. Luke Goddard ENG  +2
69. Luke Cornford ENG  +2
70. Richard James WAL  +2
71. Jamie Howarth ENG  +2

Click here for Full Frilford Heath Results – European Tour Website

ME

Copyright © 2015, Mark Eley. All rights reserved.

European Tour Q-School Finances 2014

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20th November 2014

The 2014 European Tour Qualifying School (Q-School) came to a close this afternoon with 27 players earning a European Tour card for the 2015 season.  All of the 76 professionals who made the cut shared a prize fund of €152,278 with the winner, Finland’s Mikko Korhonen, taking home €16,000.  I am sure the money is not that important to the qualifiers.  It was always about the ‘golden tickets’ and the opportunity that now lies before them.

Mikko Korhonen

2014 Q-School Winner – Mikko Korhonen (Photo: Getty Images / European Tour)

Whilst the wannabes will now be reflecting on their season the Tour’s superstars have today also teed off in the Dubai Ports World Tour Championship, the European Tour’s season finale.  The Top 60 players on The Road To Dubai (R2D) 2014 Order of Merit will be fighting it out for the US$8m prize fund and on Sunday the Final 15 will also carve up a US$5m R2D Bonus Pool.

The difference in prize money at the two ends of the European professional golf spectrum couldn’t be more clearly highlighted than during this week. This got me thinking about the Q-School’s finances and how it must feel to be one of the 899 ‘unsuccessful’ players.

I was surprised to discover a few weeks ago that the 2014 Q-School entry fee was “€1,725 (or the sterling equivalent of £1,400)”.  This seemed expensive to me, particularly when I considered who the majority of the participants were likely to be.  Even more so when I added on the accompanying travel, accommodation and possibly caddie costs associated with competing.

I estimate it costs a Q-School competitor anything between £500 and £5,000 in ancillary costs. The amount obviously depends on where they enter the process and how far they go.

European Tour QS

First Stage entries closed on 27th August, with later cut-offs put in place for those exempt from the First (27th October) and Second Stages (6th November).  All of the players have had to pay the full fee irrespective of their entry point into the qualification process.

So let’s have a look at how each stage has gone from the financial perspective of the European Tour:-

First Stage Q-School
Eight 72-hole First Stage events were held across Europe between 9th September and 3rd October on eight different courses.  102 places were available at each First Stage course, meaning a maximum of 816 players could have entered the process right at the beginning.

In the end 737 scratch or better players teed off.  Therefore the European Tour received First Stage entrance fees of €1,271,325.  Prize money of €5,000 was paid to the Top 5 professionals at each First Stage event.  In addition to this €40,000 the European Tour will have also incurred staff costs as well as host course fees in staging these qualifiers.  €25,000 per venue doesn’t appear unreasonable to me after allowing for the marketing benefits / hospitality income that could be realised by the venues.  Allowing for other upfront administrative costs and some contingencies (say, €60,000) I estimate the Tour will have spent c.€300,000 completing the First Stage.  It should therefore have generated a surplus to take to Second Stage of around €975,000.

Second Stage Q-School
Four 72-hole Second Stage events were held between the 7th and 10th November.  The fields were made up of 191 First Stage qualifiers and a 102 exempt players who had earned the right to enter the process at the Second Stage.

102 new players means additional entry fees of €175,950.  The Second Stage prize fund remained at €5,000 per site.  Deducting costs for staff and courses of, say €125,000, means it is not unreasonable to think that a further c.€30,000 may have been added to the rolling surplus.

Final Stage Q-School
A field of 156 started the 108-hole Final Stage event at PGA Catalunya which ended today.

87 golfers were exempt to this Stage, meaning an additional entry fee income of €150,075.  The total entry fees received this year have therefore been €1,438,990 by my calculation.

The PGA Catalunya Resort courses are taken out of play for a week which is not going to come cheap albeit the prestige of hosting the dramatic Final Stage must count for something.  Let’s assume a deal has been done for €50,000.  If I deduct staff costs of €25,000 and the above-mentioned prize money of €152,278 that leaves a standalone Final Stage deficit of -€77,203.

Adding up the figures from each Stage suggests that the European Tour will leave Spain with a surplus of c.€930,000.

I believe making such a profit out of the Q-School is unfair.  I appreciate that the European Tour has many other costs to meet during the year and perhaps it is unfair to look at this specific event in isolation.  I also know that many tournaments are increasingly requiring subsidies to keep them going.  However, the Tour also has a TV broadcasting contract with Sky and does it not share in the proceeds of the Ryder Cup too.  Without seeing their accounts it is of course hard to comment with real clarity.

Nevertheless it does seem inequitable to me that many golfers are asked to incur quite sizeable costs for a ticket to the Q-School lottery for a European Tour card.  By definition many of them will be just starting out or have found it difficult to make a living as a Touring Pro to date.  Surely the costs could be reduced in someway, even pro rated depending on status or better still the prize money across the three stages increased.

In many ways the current arrangements appear to be a case of ‘robbing the poor, to pay the rich’, particularly when you look at the riches available in Dubai this week. The implication has to be that the Q-School surplus is needed to help keep the main European Tour (and probably the Challenge Tour) going throughout the year.  I know this is naive, given the dog-eat-dog world of professional sport, but shouldn’t the Main Tour players be helping to achieve this as they are the ones who really benefit from it.  Higher tournament entry fees (do they pay these ?) or slightly lower prize funds every week could help in this regard.   I was pleased to read this week that Rory McIlroy, via his Foundation, was putting something back into the game and supporting the 2015 Irish Open at Royal County Down.  More of this is needed from our multi-millionaire golfers.

Rory McIlroy DPWTC

Rory McIlroy tees off at the DP World Tour Championship (Photo: Getty Images / European Tour) 

Am I missing something ?  If so what ?

Good luck to the 27 golfers who have secured their Category 15 2015 European Tour playing rights today (and those who have gained other Categories and / or rights on the Challenge Tour) but do spare a thought for the other 899 who haven’t and have once again lost a lot of money pursuing their dreams over the last few weeks and months.

ME.

Copyright © 2014, Mark Eley. All rights reserved.

ET Final Stage Q-School 2014: Day 4 Cut

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18th November 2014

European Tour QS

The 72-hole cut has today been made at the Final Stage European Tour Qualifying School (Q-School) event at the PGA Catalunya Resort in Spain.

The 926 players who entered Q-School had already been whittled down to 156 by the start of Final Stage qualifying.  We are now down to the final 78, all of whom scored -1 or better over the first four days.

The final 36-holes will now take place on the 7,333 yard, Par 72 Stadium Course, starting tomorrow.

To recap once play is complete on Thursday:-
– the top 25 players (and ties) are eligible for Cat. 15 European Tour and Cat. 5 Challenge Tour membership.
– those that made the cut are eligible for Cat. 20 European Tour and Cat. 9 Challenge Tour membership.
– Players who failed to make the cut will be eligible for Category 15 membership of the Challenge Tour.

So let’s have a look at how the 51 GB&I players have got on so far.  I have listed each player below.  The colour, as you see from the Notes, signifies where they entered the Q-School process.

Notes
Final Stage Qualifying Entrants (25)
Second Stage Qualifying Entrants (14)
First Stage Qualifying Entrants (12)
* Geoff turned Pro. ahead of competing at Second Stage Q-School.
~ Zander and Renato turned Pro. ahead of playing in the Final Stage.

Made Cut

  •  1st  Matt Ford (ENG)  74, 64, 65, 68  -13
  •  8th  Richard McEvoy (ENG)  73, 65, 64, 72  -10
  • T  9  Chris Lloyd (ENG)  72, 66, 66, 71  -9
  • T12  John Parry (ENG)  68, 68, 71, 69  -8
  • T12  Tom Murray (ENG)  76, 64, 63, 73  -8
  • T12  Paul Maddy (ENG)  67, 72, 68, 69  -8
  • T12  Stuart Manley (WAL)  66, 72, 67, 71  -8
  • T20  Andrew Marshall (ENG)  69, 71, 69, 68  -7
  • T20  Chris Paisley (ENG)  70, 69, 68, 70  -7
  • T26  Max Orrin (ENG)  69, 73, 66, 70  -6
  • T26  Kenneth Ferrie (ENG)  66, 75, 65, 72  -6
  • T26  Kevin Phelan (IRE)  69, 72, 65, 72  -6
  • T37  Matthew Fitzpatrick (ENG)  70, 66, 67, 76  -5
  • T37  David Dixon (ENG)  68, 72, 65, 74  -5
  • T37  Peter Lawrie (IRE)  71, 67, 67, 74  -5
  • T43  Simon Thornton (IRE)  68, 69,67, 76  -4
  • T43  Sam Walker (ENG)  66, 71, 68, 75  -4
  • T49  Phillip Archer (ENG)  68, 74, 72, 67  -3
  • T49  Peter Whiteford (SCO)  77, 66, 65, 73  -3
  • T49  Ben Evans (ENG)  73, 68, 66, 74  -3
  • T54  Scott Fallon (ENG)  72, 65, 71, 74  -2 
  • T54  Garrick Porteous (ENG)  80, 64, 69, 69  -2
  • T54  Duncan Stewart (SCO)  67, 76, 71, 68  -2
  • T54  Gary Lockerbie (ENG)  76, 67, 70, 69  -2
  • T54  Gareth Maybin (NI)  74, 71, 72, 65  -2 
  • T67  Dave Coupland (ENG)  76, 70, 69, 68  -1 
  • T67  Scott Henry (SCO)  70, 72, 68, 73  -1
  • T67  Simon Griffiths (ENG)  76, 68, 67, 72  -1
  • T 2 Renato Paratore (ITA)~ 67, 70, 66, 69  -12
  • T12 Emilio Cuartero Blanco (AM) (SPA) 74, 65, 66, 71  -8

Comments
– 28 out of the 51 GB&I players (55%) who started the Final Q-School event on Saturday have made the cut.
– Based on point of entry those who made the cut came from – Final Stage 15, Second Stage 9 and First Stage 4. 
– However, just 9 of the 28 are inside the important Top 25.
– After a slow start Matt Ford (ENG) has recorded three superb rounds.  Today he recorded his second eagle and had a bogey free round on the Stadium Course.
– Tom Murray (ENG) is well placed on -8 and T12 to complete the full Q-School journey as a First Stage entrant.
– Garrick Porteous (ENG) has again showed great mental strength.  To make the cut on -2 after a Rd. 1 80 (+8) is impressive.  He was also +4 after 5 holes today before recovering to shoot 69 (-1)
– Gareth Maybin (NI) 65, Phillip Archer (ENG) 67, Dave Coupland (ENG) 68, Duncan Stewart (SCO) 68 Gary Lockerbie (ENG) 69 also all played their way into the Cut today.

Other News
– 17 year old Renato Paratore’s (ITA) decision to turn Pro ahead of the Final Q-School is looking inspired.
– Emilio Cuartero Blanco (SPA) is the last Amateur still competing.
– John Hahn’s (USA) 58 (-12) Rd. 4 on the Tour Course saw him rise 92 places and make the cut in T12 (-8)

John Hahn 58 Scorecard

Missed Cut

  • T79   William Harrold (ENG)  Par
  • T90   Callum Shinkwin (ENG)  +2
  • T90   Ross Kellett (SCO)  +2
  • T90   Nathan Kimsey (ENG)  +2
  • T101 Simon Wakefield (ENG)  +3
  • T101 Wallace Booth (SCO)  +3
  • T101 Garry Houston (WAL)  +3
  • T101 Lloyd Kennedy (ENG)  +3
  • T101 Toby Tree (ENG)  +3
  • T111 Ben Parker (ENG)  +4
  • T111 Michael McGeady (IRE)  +4
  • T116 Lee Slattery (ENG)  +5 
  • T126 Robert Coles (ENG)  +7
  • T126 Billy Hemstock (ENG)  +7
  • T131 Matthew Southgate (ENG)  +8
  • T131 Paul Howard (AM) (ENG)  +8
  • T131 Nick Dougherty (ENG)  +8
  • T136 Neil Chaudhuri (ENG)  +9
  • 144th Rhys Davies (WAL)  +12
  • 145th Ross McGowen (ENG)  +14
  • RETD Stephen Dodd (WAL) 
  •  W/D  Phillip Price (WAL)  
  •  W/D Jamie Elson (ENG)
  • T111 Geoff Drakeford (AUS)*  +4
  • T121 Zander Lombard (SA)~  +6

The European Tour’s Final Q-School Leaderboard can be viewed by clicking here – Live Scores.

ME.

Copyright © 2014, Mark Eley. All rights reserved.

How did the 2013 Q-School Graduates Get On ?

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18th November 2014

European Tour QS

This time last year 27 players obtained a Category 15 Card via the Final Q-School event at PGA Catalunya.

So how did last year’s European Tour graduates get on in 2014 ?

Following last weekend’s Turkish Airlines Open The Race To Dubai (R2D) Rankings now confirm the following results: –
2 – Finished R2D Top 60, qualifying for the DP World Tour Championship.
6 – Finished R2D 66th – 111th, securing a Cat. 10 2015 ETCard.
1 – Finished R2D > 111th but won a 2014 ET winner (Cat. 5 membership).
9 – Finished R2D > 111th, currently playing at Final Q-School.
6 – Finished R2D > 145th, failed to progress from Second Stage Q-School.
3 – Finished R2D > 145th, status / plans currently unclear.

Therefore: –
30% of the players retained their European Tour cards for the 2015 season.
4% won a tournament and therefore have some 2015 playing rights.
33% can still salvage the year by coming through Final Q-School this week.
33% are already seeking alternative playing options for next year.

The two ‘stars’ were Fabrizio Zanotti (33rd) and Wade Ormsby (49th), the latter playing his way into the Tour Championship last week in Turkey.

If proof were required of the high standards required here it is.  The message seems to be Q-School may be hard to get through but staying on the European Tour thereafter is even harder.  Let no one tell you that the life of a professional golfer is anything other than a tough one.

The specific player results were as follows: –

1. Carlos DEL MORAL (Spa) -26
R2D €217,778 (113th) – 29 events / AT FINAL Q-SCHOOL

2. Fabrizio ZANOTTI (Par) -21
R2D €1,004,024 (33rd) – 27 events / TOP 60 CARD RETAINED

3. Marco CRESPI (Ita) -15
R2D €241,717 (105th) – 26 events / TOP 111 CARD RETAINED

4. Gary STAL (Fra) -14
R2D €294,998 (89th) – 25 events / TOP 111 CARD RETAINED

5. Mikael LUNDBERG (Swe) -13
R2D €269,690 (96th) – 24 events / TOP 111 CARD RETAINED

6. Adrien SADDIER (Fra) -13
R2D €176,547 (127th) – 27 events / AT FINAL Q-SCHOOL

7. John HAHN (USA) -13
R2D €197,124 (120th) – 22 events / AT FINAL Q-SCHOOL

8. Connor ARENDELL (USA) -12
R2D €19,073 (219th) – 13 events / WEB.COM Q-SCHOOL

9. Wade ORMSBY (Aus) -12
R2D €741,089 (49th) – 27 events / TOP 60  CARD RETAINED

10. Stuart MANLEY (Wal) -12
R2D €182,305 (125th) – 29 events / AT FINAL Q-SCHOOL

11. James MORRISON (Eng) -12
R2D €302,098 (88th) – 28 events / TOP 111 CARD RETAINED

12. James HEATH (Eng) -11
R2D €111,257 (151st) – 23 events / SECOND STAGE Q-SCHOOL (T21)

13.  Simon WAKEFIELD (Eng) -11
R2D €135,575 (142nd) – 26 events / AT FINAL Q-SCHOOL

14. Jens DANTORP (Swe) -11
R2D €85,408 (154th) – 23 events / SECOND STAGE Q-SCHOOL (T56)

15. Brinson PAOLINI (USA) -11
R2D €50,103 (177th) – 23 events / SECOND STAGE Q-SCHOOL (T41)

16. Patrik SJÖLAND (Swe) -11 / UNKNOWN
R2D €61,957 (168th) – 17 events

17. Kevin PHELAN (Ire) -10
R2D €174,382 (129th) – 26 events / AT FINAL Q-SCHOOL

18. Andreas HARTØ (Den) -10
R2D €73,299 (163rd) – 26 events / SECOND STAGE Q-SCHOOL (T58)

19. Daniel BROOKS (Eng) -10
R2D €138,641 (140th) – 24 events / WON 2014 MADEIRA OPEN (CAT. 5)

20. Thomas PIETERS (Bel) -10
R2D €332,371 (83rd) – 27 events / TOP 111 CARD RETAINED

21. Lucas BJERREGAARD (Den) -10
R2D €291,549 (90th) – 26 events / TOP 111 CARD RETAINED

22. Jason KNUTZON (USA) -9
R2D €119,040 (149th) – 21 events / AT FINAL Q-SCHOOL

23. Mikko KORHONEN (Fin) -9
R2D €174,775 (128th) – 21 events / AT FINAL Q-SCHOOL

24. Estanislao GOYA (Arg) -9
R2D €136,954 (141st) – 21 events / AT FINAL Q-SCHOOL

25. Jack DOHERTY (Sco) -9
R2D €51,630 (175th) – 22 events / SECOND STAGE Q-SCHOOL (T27)

26. Adam GEE (Eng) -9
R2D €117,527 (150th) – 23 events / SECOND STAGE Q-SCHOOL (T21)

27. Alistair FORSYTH (Sco) -9
R2D €83,020 (157th) – 24 events / UNKNOWN

ME.

Copyright © 2014, Mark Eley. All rights reserved.

ET Final Stage Q-School 2014: Preview

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14 November 2014

European Tour QS

The Final Stage European Tour Qualifying School (Q-School) event starts tomorrow at the PGA Catalunya Resort near Girona in North East Spain. The Final has been held here since 2008.

By way of briefing I thought I would lay out some background information for you: –

1) The entry fee for the 2014 European Tour Q-School was €1,725 (c.£1,400).  All players who compete must pay this sum irrespective of their Qualifying entry point.

2) 737 players entered at the First Stage competing in eight 72-hole events across Europe between 9th September and 3rd October on eight different courses.  Each competition had a prize fund of €5,000.

3) Four Second Stage 72-hole events were held between the 7th and 10th November.  The field of 293 consisted of 191 First Stage qualifiers and a 102 exempt players who had earned the right to enter the process at this next level.  110 players from Great Britain & Ireland (GB&I) competed in these qualifiers.  Again the prize fund for each competition was €5,000.

4) A field of 156 golfers will compete in the 108-hole (6 rounds) Final Stage competition which starts tomorrow.  Two courses are used; the Stadium (7,333 yards / Par 72) and the Tour (6,610 yards / Par 70).  Prior to the 72-hole cut two rounds are played on each.  The final two rounds are played by the leading 70 players on the Stadium Course.

5) All players competing at the Final Stage will be ranked according to their score.  The leading 25 players (and ties) are eligible for Category 15 membership of the European Tour (and Category 5 membership of the Challenge Tour) for the 2015 season.  The remainder of those making the cut will be eligible for Category 20 membership of the European Tour (and Category 9 membership of the Challenge Tour).  Players who miss the cut will be eligible for Category 15 membership of the Challenge Tour.   Information on the European Tour membership categories can be found here.  The prize fund is yet to be confirmed but last year it was €150,000.

6) 28 different countries are represented in the Final Stage.  The standard is high – 29 players have previously won a European Tour event and between them they account for a total of 49 Tour victories.  Two players, Phillip Price and Ignacio Garrido have represented Europe in the Ryder Cup.

7) Out of the 156 players 87 were exempt into the Final Stage, 30 players were exempt into the Second Stage and 39 players started at the First Stage.  In total 926 players will have therefore entered the 2015 Q-School.  As this is the seventh successive year that the final has been held at PGA Catalunya the two courses will be familiar to many of the players.

8) England are the best represented country with 36 competitors. Sweden have 18 players, France 14, Spain 12, Australia 7, South Africa 6 and Germany 5.  Scotland 5, Wales 5, Ireland 4 and Northern Ireland 1 make up the home nations.

9) The GB&I competitors are listed below with their entry points.  I am particularly interested in the First Stage qualifiers as it is clearly some achievement to successfully negotiate all 252 Q-School holes and to secure a Card.  Good luck to all of our players but particularly this group.

Final Stage Qualifying Entrants – 25 Players

  • Phillip Archer (ENG)
  • Robert Coles (ENG)
  • Dave Coupland (ENG)
  • Rhys Davies (WAL)
  • David Dixon (ENG)
  • Stephen Dodd (WAL)
  • Nick Dougherty (ENG)
  • Ben Evans (ENG)
  • Kenneth Ferrie (ENG)
  • William Harrold (ENG)
  • Scott Henry (SCO)
  • Peter Lawrie (IRE)
  • Gareth Maybin (NI)
  • Stuart Manley (WAL)
  • Andrew Marshall (ENG)
  • Ross McGowen (ENG)
  • Max Orrin (ENG)
  • John Parry (ENG)
  • Kevin Phelan (IRE)
  • Phillip Price (WAL)
  • Callum Shinkwin (ENG)
  • Lee Slattery (ENG)
  • Simon Thornton (IRE)
  • Simon Wakefield (ENG)
  • Peter Whiteford (SCO)

Second Stage Qualifying Entrants – 14 players

  • Wallace Booth (SCO)
  • Jamie Elson (ENG)
  • Matthew Fitzpatrick (ENG)
  • Matt Ford (ENG)
  • Billy Hemstock (ENG)
  • Lloyd Kennedy (ENG)
  • Nathan Kimsey (ENG)
  • Gary Lockerbie (ENG)
  • Chris Lloyd (ENG)
  • Paul Maddy (ENG)
  • Richard McEvoy (ENG)
  • Chris Paisley (ENG)
  • Duncan Stewart (SCO)
  • Sam Walker (ENG)

First Stage Qualifying Entrants – 12 players

  • Neil Chaudhuri (ENG) – Frilford Heath – Blue
  • Scott Fallon (ENG) – The Roxburghe
  • Simon Griffiths (ENG) – Golf d’Hardelot
  • Garry Houston (WAL) – Golf d’Hardelot (17th Q-School app.)
  • Paul Howard (AM) (ENG) – Frilford Heath – Red
  • Ross Kellett (SCO) – Frilford Heath Blue
  • Michael McGeady (IRE) – Golf d’Hardelot
  • Tom Murray (ENG) – The Roxburghe
  • Ben Parker (ENG) – Fleesensee
  • Garrick Porteous (ENG) – The Roxburghe
  • Matthew Southgate (ENG) – Frilford Heath – Blue
  • Toby Tree (ENG) – Golf d’Hardelot

10) I am also keeping an eye on the overseas ‘Amateurs’ who are still in play, some of whom have turned Pro during the Q-School process: –

Other Overseas Notables

  • Emilio Cuartero Blanco (AM) (SPA) – 1st Stage (Bogogno)
  • Geoff Drakeford* (AUS) – 1st Stage (Frilford Heath – Red)
  • Zander Lombard~ (SA) -1st Stage (Ribagolfe)
  • Renato Paratore~ (ITA) – 2nd Stage (WAGR ranking exemption)

* Geoff turned Pro. ahead of competing at Second Stage Q-School.
~ Zander and Renato are turning Pro. ahead of playing in the Final Stage.

To follow the European Tour’s Final Stage Q-School Live Scoring link click here.

ME.

Copyright © 2014, Mark Eley. All rights reserved.

ET Second Stage Q-School 2014: Day 4

Posted on by

10th November 2014

European Tour QS

The Second Stage European Tour Qualifying School (Q-School) events have been completed today.  293 players competed over 72-holes across four different courses.  In the end there were 69 qualifying spots available across these venues – 17 each at El Saler, Lumine and Panoramica and 18 at Las Colinas.

110 players from Great Britain & Ireland (GB&I) started the Second Stage competitions.  26 of these have progressed to the Final Stage.  Matthew Cort sadly missed out in the Las Colinas play-off.  I have collated the 72-hole Second Stage results of the GB&I Amateurs, some of the GB&I Pro’s and various Overseas Notables below so you can quickly see who has qualified. Players in bold have qualified.

If you want to look at the detailed results for each venue simply click on the underlined Course Names and a link will take you to the European Tour’s live scoring page for that site.

The Final Stage Q-School will start at the PGA Catalunya Resort this coming Saturday, the 15th November.  The top 25 and tied finishers after six rounds will secure Category 15 European Tour cards for 2015.

Campo de Golf El Saler
6,449 yards, Par 72 – 29 GB&I players / 17 Qualifying Spots

  •  1st  Garry Houston (WAL)  70, 71, 71, 65 (-11)
  •  3rd  Simon Griffiths (ENG)  72, 69, 69, 69 (-9)
  • T  5  Matthew Fitzpatrick (ENG)  72, 72, 67, 71 (-6)
  • T  5  Ben Parker (ENG)  71, 72, 68, 71 (-6)
  • T  5  Wallace Booth (SCO)  73, 68, 69, 72 (-6)
  • T  8  Billy Hemstock (ENG)  73, 72, 68, 71 (-4)
  • T12  Neil Chaudhuri (ENG)  72, 71, 72, 70 (-3)
  • T12  Michael McGeady (IRE)  73, 70, 72, 70 (-3)
  • T15  Chris Lloyd (ENG)  72, 69, 72, 73 (-2)
  • T18  Aaron Rai (ENG)  77, 74, 67, 69 (-1)
  • T18  Ryan Evans (ENG)  76, 70, 67, 74 (-1)
  • T21  Dominic Foos (GER)  74, 73, 72, 69 (Par)
  • T30  Elliott Saltman (SCO)  77, 70, 76, 68 (+3)
  • T50  Joshua White (ENG)  75, 73, 74, 75 (+9)

Las Colinas Golf & Country Club
6,974 yards, Par 71 – 25 GB&I players / 17 Qualifying Spots

  •  1st  Chris Paisley (ENG)  66, 66, 69, 66 (-17)
  • T  2  Sam Walker (ENG)  68, 63, 66, 73 (-14)
  • T  4  Jamie Elson (ENG)  65, 68, 68, 71 (-12)
  • T  6  Scott Fallon (ENG)  67, 69, 69, 69 (-10)
  • T  6  Richard McEvoy (ENG)  67, 65, 71, 71 (-10)
  • T  9  Lloyd Kennedy (ENG)  69, 70, 68, 68 (-9)
  • T  9  Emilio Cuartero Blanco (AM) (SPA)  69, 70, 66, 70 (-9)
  • T16  Geoff Drakeford* (AUS)  69, 67, 69, 72 (-7) AFTER PLAY OFF
  • T16  Matthew Cort (ENG)  70, 70, 69, 68 (-7)
  • T20  Raymond Russell (SCO)  68, 70, 71, 69 (-6)
  • T27  Jordan Smith (ENG)  73, 67, 69, 70 (-5)
  • T41  Alexander Culverwell (AM) (SCO)  66, 73, 74, 70 (-1)
  • T46  Chris Robb (SCO)  69, 72, 69, 74  (Par)
  • T51  Zane Scotland (ENG)  68, 69, 73, 75 (+1)

Lumine Golf & Beach Club (Lakes)
6,909 yards, Par71 – 27 GB&I players / 17 Qualifying Spots

  • T  4  Paul Maddy (ENG)  75, 65, 65, 65 (-14)
  • T10  Matt Ford (ENG)  76, 66, 70, 62 (-10)
  • T10  Paul Howard (AM) (ENG)  70, 67, 68, 69 (-10)
  • T14  Garrick Porteous (ENG)  67, 77, 64, 67 (-9)
  • T14  Nathan Kimsey (ENG)  72, 67, 69, 67 (-9)   
  • T16  Daniel Givens (ENG)  68, 70, 72, 66 (-8)
  • T21  James Heath (ENG)  72, 65, 71, 69 (-7)
  • T21  Neil Kearney (IRE)  70, 69, 66, 72 (-7)
  • T25  Neil Fenwick (SCO)  72, 67, 69, 70 (-6)
  • T32  Steven Tiley (ENG)  70, 69, 69, 71 (-5)
  • T34  Stiggy Hodgson (ENG)  73, 71, 70, 66 (-4)
  • T37  Luke Johnson (AM) (ENG)  75, 68, 70, 68 (-3)
  • T41  Ashley Chesters (AM) (ENG)  72, 66, 72, 72 (-2)
  • T64  Neil Raymond (ENG)  72, 70, 73, 76 (+7)

Panoramica Golf & Sport Resort
7,030 yards, Par 72 – 29 GB&I players / 17 Qualifying Spots

  •  1st  Matthew Southgate (ENG)  66, 69, 64, 67 (-22)
  • 2nd  Toby Tree (ENG)  66, 67, 65, 69 (-21)
  • T  8  Ross Kellett (SCO)  71, 68, 68, 65 (-16)
  • T  8  Renato Paratore (AM) (ITA)  70, 65, 71 (-16)
  • T  8  Duncan Stewart (SCO)  75, 63, 67, 67 (-16)
  • T13  Tom Murray (ENG)  65, 73, 66, 70 (-14)
  • T15  Zander Lombard (AM) (SA)  68, 70, 70, 67 (-13) AFTER PLAY-OFF
  • T15  Gary Lockerbie (ENG)  72, 67, 68, 68 (-13) AFTER PLAY-OFF
  • T24  Martin Sell (ENG)  68, 66, 69, 74 (-11)
  • T51  Scott Borrowman (AM) (SCO)  68, 71, 75, 69 (-5)
  • T56  Mark Young* (ENG)  72, 71, 70, 71 (-4)
  • 68th  Luke Joy (ENG)  75, 69, 72, 73 (+1)

* Turned Professional ahead of Q-School.

ME.

Copyright © 2014, Mark Eley. All rights reserved.

ET Second Stage Q-School 2014: Day 3

Posted on by

9th November 2014

European Tour QS

The Second Stage European Tour Qualifying School events started on Friday in Spain. 293 players are competing over 72-holes across four venues.  All are looking to progress to the Final Stage which will take place at the PGA Catalunya Resort between 15th and 20th November. Ultimately the top 25 and tied finishers will secure Category 15 European Tour cards via the Q-School series.

I have collated the 54-holes scores of the GB&I Amateurs, some of the GB&I Pro’s and various Overseas Notables below.

This week there are 68 qualifying spots available across the four venues – 17 at El Saler, Las Colinas, Lumine and Panoramica (an extra one was added to Panoramica overnight).

If you want to look at the detailed results for each venue simply click on the underlined Course Names and a link will take you to the European Tour’s live scoring page for that site.

Campo de Golf El Saler
6,449 yards, Par 72 – 29 GB&I players / 17 Qualifying Spots

  • T  1  Wallace Booth (SCO)  73, 68, 69 (-6)
  • T  1  Simon Griffiths (ENG)  72, 69, 69 (-6)
  • T  4  Matthew Fitzpatrick (ENG)  72, 72, 67 (-5)
  • T  4  Ben Parker (ENG)  71, 72, 68 (-5)
  • T  6  Garry Houston (WAL)  70, 71, 71 (-4)
  • T  8  Chris Lloyd (ENG) 72, 69, 72 (-3)
  • T  8  Ryan Evans (ENG)  76, 70, 67 (-3)
  • T  8  Billy Hemstock (ENG)  73, 72, 68 (-3)
  • T16  Neil Chaudhuri (ENG)  72, 71, 72 (-1)
  • T16  Michael McGeady (IRE)  73, 70, 72 (-1)
  • T26  Dominic Foos (GER)  74, 73, 72 (+3)
  • T42  Joshua White (ENG)  75, 73, 74 (+6)
  • T48  Elliott Saltman (SCO)  77, 70, 76 (+7)

Las Colinas Golf & Country Club
6,974 yards, Par 71 – 25 GB&I players / 17 Qualifying Spots

  • T  1  Sam Walker (ENG)  68, 63, 66 (-16)
  • T  2  Jamie Elson (ENG)  65, 68, 68 (-12)
  • T  2  Chris Paisley (ENG)  66, 66, 69 (-12)
  • T  6  Richard McEvoy (ENG)  67, 65, 71 (-10)
  • T  8  Alex Wrigley (ENG)  69, 69, 66 (-9)
  • T10  Scott Fallon (ENG)  67, 69, 69 (-8)
  • T10  Emilio Cuartero Blanco (AM) (SPA)  69, 70, 66 (-8)
  • T10  Geoffrey Drakeford* (AUS)  69, 67, 69 (-8)
  • T25  Jordan Smith (ENG)  73, 67, 69 (-4)
  • T25  Raymond Russell (SCO)  68, 70, 71 (-4)
  • T38  Chris Robb (SCO)  69, 72, 69 (-3)
  • T38  Zane Scotland (ENG)  68, 69, 73 (-3)
  • T54  Alexander Culverwell (AM) (SCO)  66, 73, 74 (Par)

Lumine Golf & Beach Club (Lakes)
6,909 yards, Par71 – 27 GB&I players / 17 Qualifying Spots

  • T  6  Paul Howard (AM) (ENG)  70, 67, 68 (-8)
  • T  6  Neil Kearney (IRE)  70, 69, 66 (-8)
  • T  6  Paul Maddy (ENG)  75, 65, 65 (-8)
  • T14  James Heath (ENG)  72, 65, 71 (-5)
  • T14  Garrick Porteous (ENG)  67, 77, 64 (-5)
  • T14  Neil Fenwick (SCO)  72, 67, 69 (-5)
  • T14  Steven Tiley (ENG)  70, 69, 69 (-5)
  • T14  Nathan Kimsey (ENG)  72, 67, 69 (-5)
  • T26  Ashley Chesters (AM) (ENG)  72, 66, 72 (-3)
  • T46  Luke Johnson (AM) (ENG)  75, 68, 70 (Par)
  • T52  Stiggy Hodgson (ENG)  73, 71, 70 (+1)
  • T57  Neil Raymond (ENG)  72, 70, 73  (+2)

Panoramica Golf & Sport Resort
7,030 yards, Par 72 – 29 GB&I players / 17 Qualifying Spots

  •  1st  Toby Tree (ENG)  66, 67, 65  (-18)
  • 2nd  Matthew Southgate (ENG)  66, 69, 64  (-17)
  • T  7  Martin Sell (ENG)  68, 66, 69  (-13)
  • T  9  Tom Murray (ENG)  65, 73, 66  (-12)
  • T13  Duncan Stewart (SCO)  75, 63, 67 (-11)
  • T15  Renato Paratore (AM) (ITA)  70, 65, 71 (-10)
  • T28  Zander Lombard (AM) (SA)  68, 70, 70 (-8)
  • T54  Mark Young* (ENG)  72, 71, 70  (-3)
  • T59  Scott Borrowman (AM) (SCO)  68, 71, 75 (-2)
  • T66  Luke Joy (ENG)  75, 69, 72  (Par)

* Turned Professional ahead of Q-School.

ME.

Copyright © 2014, Mark Eley. All rights reserved.

ET Second Stage Q-School 2014: Day 2

Posted on by

8th November 2014

European Tour QS

Second Stage European Tour Qualifying School events started yesterday in Spain.  293 players are competing across four venues, all looking to progress to the Final Stage which will take place at the PGA Catalunya Resort between 15th and 20th November.  Ultimately the top 25 and tied finishers will secure Category 15 European Tour cards via the Q-School series.

I have collated the scores of the GB&I Amateurs, some of the GB&I Pro’s and various Overseas Notables below.

There are 67 qualifying spots across the four venues – 17 at El Saler, Las Colinas, Lumine and 16 at Panoramica.

If you want to look at the detailed results for each venue simply click on the underlined Course Names and a link will take you to the European Tour’s live scoring page for that site.

Campo de Golf El Saler (6,449 yards, Par 72) – 29 GB&I players.

17 Qualifying Spots

  • T  1  James Ablett (ENG)  72, 69 (-3)
  • T  1  Simon Griffiths (ENG)  72, 69 (-3)
  • T  1  Garry Houston (WAL)  70, 71 (-3)
  • T11  Matthew Fitzpatrick (ENG)  72, 72 (Par)
  • T25  Ryan Evans (ENG)  76, 70 (+2)
  • T30  Elliott Saltman (SCO)  77, 70 (+3)
  • T30  Dominic Foos (GER)  74, 73 (+3)
  • T42  Joshua White (ENG)  75, 73 (+4)

Las Colinas Golf & Country Club (6,974 yards, Par 71) – 25 GB&I players.

17 Qualifying Spots

  • T  1  Sam Walker (ENG)  68, 63 (-11)
  • T  4  Jamie Elson (ENG)  65. 68 (-9)
  • T13  Geoffrey Drakeford* (AUS)  69, 67 (-6)
  • T17  Zane Scotland (ENG)  68, 69 (-5)
  • T21  Raymond Russell (SCO)  68, 70 (-4)
  • T27  Alexander Culverwell (AM) (SCO)  66, 73 (-3)
  • T34  Jordan Smith (ENG)  73, 67 (-2)
  • T42  Chris Robb (SCO)  69, 72 (-1)

Lumine Golf & Beach Club (Lakes) (6,909 yards, Par71) – 27 GB&I players.

17 Qualifying Spots

  • T  6  James Heath (ENG)  72, 65 (-5)
  • T  6  Paul Howard (AM) (ENG)  70, 67 (-5)
  • T11  Ashley Chesters (AM) (ENG)  72, 66 (-4)
  • T17  Neil Kearney (IRE)  70, 69 (-3)
  • T17  Nathan Kimsey (ENG)  72, 67 (-3)
  • T36  Neil Raymond (ENG)  72, 70 (Par)
  • T44  Luke Johnson (AM) (ENG)  75, 68 (+1)
  • T55  Garrick Porteous (ENG)  67, 77 (+2)
  • T55  Stiggy Hodgson (ENG)  73, 71 (+2)

Panoramica Golf & Sport Resort (7,030 yards, Par 72) – 29 GB&I players.

16 Qualifying Spots

  • T  2  Toby Tree (ENG)  66, 67 (-11)
  • T  6  Martin Sell (ENG)  68, 66 (-10)
  • T10  Renato Paratore (AM) (ITA)  70, 65 (-9)
  • T10  Matthew Southgate (ENG)  66, 69 (-10)
  • T19  Lauri Ruuska (AM) (FIN)  70, 67 (-7)
  • T26  Tom Murray (ENG)  65, 73 (-6)
  • T26  Zander Lombard (AM) (SA)  68, 70 (-6)
  • T38  Scott Borrowman (AM) (SCO)  68, 71 (-5)
  • T56  Mark Young* (ENG)  72, 71 (-1)
  • T63  Luke Joy (ENG)  75, 69 (Par)

* Turned Professional yesterday.

ME.

Copyright © 2014, Mark Eley. All rights reserved.

ET Second Stage Q-School 2014: Day 1

Posted on by

7th November 2014

European Tour QS

The Second Stage European Tour Qualifying School events started today in Spain.  The 191 players who negotiated the First Stage have now been joined by 102 new players who through their past endeavours were exempt from September’s eight pre-qualifying competitions.

The six-round Final Stage will take place at the PGA Catalunya Resort between 15th – 20th November.  The number of qualifying spots available to the Final Stage will be confirmed tomorrow afternoon once the Challenge Tour Grand Final in Dubai has been concluded and that Tour’s rankings are finalised.

I thought it may be useful to collate the scores of the GB&I Amateurs, some GB&I Selected Pro’s and various Other Notables from the four courses in one place: –

Campo de Golf El Saler – 29 GB&I players in total.

  • T  9  Matthew Fitzpatrick (ENG)  72 (Par)
  • T27  Dominic Foos (GER)  74 (+2)
  • T36  Joshua White (ENG)  75 (+3)
  • T43  Ryan Evans (ENG)  76 (+4)
  • T53  Elliott Saltman (SCO)  77 (+5)

Las Colinas Golf & Country Club – 25 GB&I players in total.

  • T  2  Jamie Elson (ENG)  65 (-6)
  • T  5  Alexander Culverwell (AM) (SCO)  66 (-5)
  • T16  Zane Scotland (ENG)  68 (-3)
  • T16  Raymond Russell (SCO)  68 (-3)
  • T22  Chris Robb (SCO)  69 (-2)
  • T22  Geoffrey Drakeford* (AUS)  69 (-2)
  • T54  Jordan Smith (ENG)  73 (+2)

Lumine Golf & Beach Club (Lakes Course) – 27 GB&I players in total.

  • T  3  Garrick Porteous (ENG)  67 (-4)
  • T15  Paul Howard (AM) (ENG)  70 (-1)
  • T36  Ashley Chesters (AM) (ENG)  72 (+1)
  • T36  Nathan Kimsey (ENG)  72 (+1)
  • T36  Neil Raymond (ENG)  72 (+1)
  • T50  David Higgins (IRE)  73 (+2)
  • T50  Stiggy Hodgson (ENG)  73 (+2)
  • T62  Luke Johnson (AM) (ENG)  75 (+4)

Panoramica Golf & Sport Resort – 29 GB&I players in total.

  • T  2  Tom Murray (ENG)  65 (-7)
  • T  4  Toby Tree (ENG)  66 (-6)
  • T18  Zander Lombard (AM) (SA)  68 (-4)
  • T18  Scott Borrowman (AM) (SCO)  68 (-4)
  • T35  Renato Paratore (AM) (ITA)  70 (-2)
  • T52  Mark Young* (ENG)  72 (Par)
  • T68  Luke Joy (ENG)  75 (+3)

* Turned Professional today.  

If you click on the underlined Venue Names it will take you to the European Tour’s live scoring page for that site where you can see all of the day’s scores.

ME.

Copyright © 2014, Mark Eley. All rights reserved.