DP World Tour Q-School – 2025 Final Stage Preview & Results

12th November 2025

RESULTS

Zander LOMBARD (RSA) -37 won the 2025 DP World Tour Final Stage Q-School competition by a massive 13-shots.

Zander Lombard (Photo: DP World Tour)

20 players from 16 different countries earned DP World Tour Category 18 playing privileges for the 2026 season after completion of the 108 hole marathon at INFINITUM in Spain.

Four GB&I players, Nathan KIMSEY (ENG), -22 tied 5th, Matthew BALDWIN (ENG), -20 tied 8th, and Eddie PEPPERELL (ENG) & Jack YULE (ENG), both -19 tied 12th, were amongst this successful group.

Connor MCKINNEY (AUS), -24 tied 2nd, Daniel RODRIGUES (POR), -22 tied 5th, Quentin DEBOVE (FRA), -21 7th, Andres German GALLEGOS (ARG) and Frederico BIONDI FIGUEIREDO (BRA), Hunter LOGAN (USA) & Mike TOOROP (NED), all -18 tied 16th, successfully negotiated all three stages of Q-School to earn their cards.

Final Stage Leaderboard – Top 20 (Graphic: DP World Tour)

The remaining players who made the 72 hole cut but finished outside the Top 20 earned a lower membership category on the DP World Tour as well as playing rights on the HotelPlanner Tour.

John GOUGH (ENG) and Marc WARREN (SCO), -17 tied 21st, both missed out on their cards by 1-shot.

Here are the final results for all of the GB&I players who made the cut: –

Final Stage Leaderboard – GB&I Players Who Made The Cut (Graphic: DP World Tour)

23 of the 36 GB&I players who started Final Stage missed the leading 60 players and ties 72 hole cut which fell at 281 (-5).

The players, shown below, who missed the cut will be eligible for a membership category on the HotelPlanner Tour in 2026.

Final Stage Leaderboard – GB&I Players Who Missed The Cut (Graphic: DP World Tour)

Click here to view the – DP World Tour 2025 Q-School – Final Stage Scores

______________________________________

4th November 2025

INTRODUCTION

The DP World Tour Q-School consists of three stages; First, Second and Final.

This post covers FINAL STAGE QUALIFYING which is being played at Infinitum Golf in Tarragona, Spain between the 7th-12th November.

My focus remains on the amateur players, the Great British & Irish (GB&I) professionals, any newly turned professionals from abroad and all of the 1st and 2nd Stage Q-School Winners.

Earlier articles have covered the nine FIRST STAGE and four SECOND STAGE events which have led us to this week’s FINAL STAGE.

156 players will battle over six rounds for a top 20 and ties finish and a place on the DP World Tour for the 2026 season.

The Final Results will be added to this article in due course.

More information on the whole 2025 Qualifying School can be found in the Appendix at the end of this article.

img_2805

COMPETITION AND FIELD 

156 players will play a total of six rounds or 108 holes over Infinitum’s two championship courses; the Lakes which plays 7,001 yards (par 71) and the Hills which is slightly shorter at 6,956 yards (par 72).

102 players, including 7 Alternates, came through the four Second Stage competitions with the remaining 54 being exempted into Final Stage through their recent endeavours on the DP World Tour and HotelPlanner Tour.

36 Great British & Irish (GB&I) players will be competing this week; 25 came through Second Stage with 11 being exempt.

No amateurs have made it through to Final Stage this year.

After two rounds are played on both the Hills and Lakes courses (72 holes) the field will be cut to the leading 60 players and ties. The final 36 holes will then be played on the Lakes Course over the remaining two competition days.

Here is an alphabetical list of the 52 players that I am specifically following with details of their Q-School journeys so far: –

Great British & Irish (36)
Matthew BALDWIN (ENG) – EX DP World Tour Past Winner
Bradley BAWDEN (ENG) – 1st Fredrikshavn DEN / 2nd Las Pinaillas
George BLOOR (ENG) – EX Top 100 HotelPlanner Tour / 2nd Desert Springs
Steven BROWN (ENG) – EX DP World Tour Tournament Winner / 2nd Isla Canela
James COOPER (ENG) – 1st France Du Vaudreuil FRA/ 2nd Desert Springs
Robert DINWIDDIE (ENG) – 1st Northumberland ENG / 2nd Fontanals Alt
Rhys ENOCH (WAL) – EX DP World Tour 2025 Member / 2nd Fontanals
Callum FARR (ENG) – EX Clutch Pro Tour OoM / 2nd Fontanals
John-Ross GALBRAITH (N.I.) –1st Northumberland ENG / 2nd Desert Springs
Bailey GILL (ENG) – 1st Huddersfield ENG / 2nd Las Pinaillas
John GOUGH (ENG) – EX HotelPlanner Tour Ranking 21-45
Gregor GRAHAM (SCO) – 1st France Du Vaudreuil FRA / 2nd Fontanals
Jack HAWKSBY (ENG) – 1st Hulencourt 2 BEL / 2nd Las Pinaillas
Josh HILLEARD (ENG) – EX 1st The Players Club ENG / 2nd Isla Canela
David HORSEY (ENG) – EX HotelPlanner Tour Ranking 21-45
Craig HOWIE (SCO) – 1st Northumberland ENG / 2nd Las Pinaillas
Haider HUSSAIN (ENG) – 1st The Players Club ENG / 2nd Las Pinaillas
Frank KENNEDY (ENG) – EX DP World Tour 2025 Member / 2nd Fontanals
Max KENNEDY (IRL) – EX Top 100 HotelPlanner Tour / 2nd Isla Canela
Nathan KIMSEY (ENG) – EX DP World Tour Ranking 111-145
Sam LOCKE (SCO) – 1st Fredrikshavn DEN / 2nd Fontanals
Joe PAGDIN (ENG) – 1st Huddersfield ENG Winner / 2nd Fontanals
Eddie PEPPERELL (ENG) – EX DP World Tour 2025 Member / 2nd Fontanals
Mark POWER (IRL) – 1st Ebreichsdorf AUT / 2nd Desert Springs
Conor PURCELL (IRL) – EX DP World Tour Ranking 111-145
Jamie RUTHERFORD (ENG) – EX HotelPlanner Tour Ranking 21-45
Cormac SHARVIN (N.I.) – 1st Donnington Grove ENG / 2nd Isla Canela
Tom SLOMAN (ENG) – 1st Huddersfield ENG / 2nd Las Pinaillas
Matthew SOUTHGATE (ENG) – EX DP World Tour Ranking 111-145
Oliver SULLIVAN (ENG) – 1st Huddersfield ENG / 2nd Fontanals
Callum TARREN (ENG) – EX DP World Tour Ranking 111-145
Marc WARREN (SCO) – EX Top 100 HotelPlanner Tour / 2nd Isla Canela
Andrew WILSON (ENG) – EX DP World Tour Ranking 111-145
Oliver WILSON (ENG) – EX DP World Tour Past Winner
Chris WOOD (ENG) – EX DP World Tour Career Money
Jack YULE (ENG) – EX Clutch Pro Tour OoM / 2nd Las Pinaillas

Overseas (16)
Frederico BIONDI (BRA) – 1st Stage Hulencourt 1 BEL Winner / 2nd Isla Canela Alt
Matteo CRISTONI (ITA) TURNED PRO 9/25 – 1st Ebreichsdorf AUT Winner / 2nd Desert Springs
Wouter DE VRIES (NED) –1st Fredrikshavn DEN Co-Winner / 2nd Desert Springs
Quentin DEBOVE (FRA) – EX Satelite Tours OoM Winner / 2nd Las Pinaillas
Pablo ERENO (ESP) – 1st Northumberland ENG Winner / 2nd Las Pinaillas
Grant HAEFNER (USA) – 1st Hulencourt 2 BEL Winner / 2nd Las Pinaillas
Kristian H. BRESSUM (DEN) TURNED PRO 10/25 EX Top 3 GAP Ranking / 2nd Isla Canela
Andres G. GALLEGOS (ARG) – 1st France Du Vaudreuil FRA Winner / 2nd Desert Springs
Oliver GILLBERG (SWE) – 1st Fredrikshavn DEN / 2nd Desert Springs Co-Winner
Alex GOFF (USA) – 1st Donnington Grove ENG Winner / 2nd Las Pinaillas
Cooper MUSSELMAN (USA) – 1st The Players Club ENG Winner / 2nd Fontanals
Robin SCIOT-SIEGRIST (FRA) – EX Top 100 HotelPlanner Tour / 2nd Desert Springs Co-Winner
Martin SIMONSEN (DEN) – 1st Fredrikshavn DEN Co-Winner / 2nd Isla Canela
Spencer TIBBITS (USA) – EX 1st Donnington Grove ENG / 2nd Isla Canela Co-Winner
Ben WARIAN (USA) – EX 1st Arlandastad SWE Co-Winner / 2nd Isla Canela Co-Winner
Tyler WOOD (NZL) – 1st Northumberland ENG Winner / 2nd Fontanals

EX – Exempt Into Final Stage

PRIZES

Players finishing in the The top 20 and ties will earn conditional membership (Category 18) on the DP World Tour and fully exempt status on the HotelPlanner Tour for the 2026 season.

Players making the cut and finishing lower than 20th will earn conditional membership (Category 21) on the DP World Tour and fully exempt status on the HotelPlanner Tour for the 2026 season.

Players who miss the Top 70 cut after 72 holes are eligible for membership of the HotelPlanner Tour in 2026.

Each player will be ranked according to their final results with ties resolved by card play-off. For those that make the cut the initial focus will be on the best last 18 holes, then best last 36 holes and then the best 3rd or 4th round over the Lakes Course.

This finishing position ranking is important as it can make a big difference to the number of Tour starts recevied.

img_8606

Infinitum – 18th hole, Hills Course (Photo: http://www.infinitumliving.com)

APPENDIX

THE 2025 DP WORLD TOUR QUALIFYING SCHOOL SERIES

The DP World Tour (previously known as 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 test has grown into potentially a 252 hole marathon.

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

The 2025 European Tour Q-School entrance fee has been maintained at £2,750 (2024 & ’23: £2,500, 2022: £2,000, 2019: £1,800) with entries closed on 13th August 2025.

Male amateur golfers who are listed in positions 1-2,000 of the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) or have a handicap index of not more than +2.5 can enter (in 2024 this was +1.5).

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

From an amateur perspective, and subject to entering First Stage, exemptions into Second Stage are available to: –

  • the leading 3 entrants as at 13th August 2025 to a limit of 20th place in the WAGR; and
  • the leading 2 entrants as at 13th August 2025 to a limit of 10th place in the Global Amateur Ranking.

FIRST STAGE

First Stage consisted of ten 72 hole stroke play qualifying events.

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

The DP World Tour introduced a 36 hole cut to First Stage in 2023. Originally it removed players not within 12-shots of the projected final qualifying place but this year this was tightened to 10 shots. The 54 hole cut, where previously only players within 7-shots of the final qualifying place play the final round, has now been removed.

Any ties for the final qualifying place at the end of play proceed too.

Here are links to all of the results from the First Stage events:-

26th-29th August 1. HULENCOURT, BELGIUM (WEEK 1) Results

26th-29th August 2. THE PLAYERS CLUB, ENGLAND Results

2nd-5th September 3. HUDDERSFIELD GOLF CLUB, ENGLAND Results

2nd-5th September 4. HULENCOURT, BELGIUM (WEEK 2) Results

9th-12th September 5. THE NORTHUMBERLAND G.C., ENGLAND Results

16th-19th September 6. ARLANDASTAD GOLF (MASTERS COURSE), SWEDEN – Results

16th-19th September 7. DONNINGTON GROVE GOLF CLUB, ENGLAND Results

23rd-26th September 8. FREDRIKSHAVN GOLFKLUB, DENMARK Results

24th-27th September  9. GOLFCLUB SCHLOSS EBREICHSDORF, AUSTRIA – Results

7th-10th October  10. GOLF PGA FRANCE DU VAUDREUIL, FRANCE – Results

_________________________________________________

SECOND STAGE

The Second Qualifying Stage consists of four separate 72-hole events with c.72 players competing at each one.

30th October-2nd November 2025

DESERT SPRINGS RESORT, ALMERIA, SPAIN Results

FORTANALS GOLF CLUB, GIRONA, SPAINResults

ISLA CANELA (LINKS COURSE), HUELVA, SPAINResults

GOLF LAS PINAILLAS, ALBACETE, SPAINResults

There is no cut but players are able to withdrawal after each round if they wish to.

The actual number of places available for Final Stage are again confirmed after all of the players have teed off on Day 1 of each event. Sudden death play-offs are held to resolve ties at this Stage.

FINAL STAGE

The Final Qualifying Stage consists of 108 holes on the Lakes and Hills Courses at Infinitum Golf, previously known as Lumine GC, in Tarragona, Spain.

7th-12th November 2025

INFINITUM, TARRAGONA, SPAIN

Infinitum replaced PGA Catalunya Resort in 2017 and will be hosting Final Stage for the seventh time this year. No Q-School was held in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A new 3 year contract through to 2027 was announced on 12th November 2024 which will see the Tarragona venue continue to stage the Finals.

156 players will play two rounds over each of the Lakes and Hills Courses. After these 72 holes the field will be cut to the leading 60 players and ties who will play a final 36 holes. The top 65 have progressed in previous years.

The leading 20 players (plus those tied for 20th place) in the Final Stage competition will earn Conditional Membership of The DP World Tour (and fully exempt status on the HotelPlanner Tour) for the 2026 season. In 2024 the medalist had 28 tournament playing opportunities whilst the 20th qualifier has just 9.

Those who make the 72 hole cut but finish outside the Top 20 will also earn a membership category, albeit a lower one, on the DP World Tour (and HotelPlanner Tour).

Players who miss the cut will be eligible for membership of the HotelPlanner Tour.

Every player is ranked according to their finishing score, card count backs assisting in this process, and this ranking matters when it comes to future playing opportunities.

ME.

Copyright © 2014-2025, Mark Eley. All rights reserved.

DP World Tour Q-School – 2024 Final Stage Preview & Results

4th November 2024 (Updated 14th November 2024)

FINAL RESULTS

Eduardo MOLINARI (ITA) -29 secured medalist honours at the DP World Tour Q-School’s Final Stage event played at Infinitum Resort in Tarragona, Spain. The experienced Italian ended the 2024 Race to Dubai standings in 140th place but bounced back from this disappointment in some style.

img_0228-1

Eduardo Molinari (Photo: DP World Tour Q-School)

A total of 21 players from 13 different countries secured their cards for the 2025 season.

Niklas LEMKE (SWE) -28 finished 2nd and Davis BRYANT (USA) -27, who finished with a 9-under 62, was 3rd.

Joshua BERRY (ENG), who was the star of last year’s Q-School – Final Stage as an 18 year old, also finished strongly. His final round 63 saw him rise from tied 29th to tied 10th.

Ben SCHMIDT (ENG) -19, tied 12th, was the only other Great British and Irish player to finish in the all-important top 20 and ties places.

Amateur champion Jacob Skov OLESEN (DEN) -18 came home in tied 18th. Still an amateur he will presumably turn pro now and forego The Masters Invitational and U.S. Open Championship exemptions he earned at Ballyliffin.

Davis BRYANT (USA), Albert BONETA (ESP), Riggs JOHNSTON (USA), Corey SHAUN (USA), Dan ERICKSON (USA) and Danny LIST (AUS) successfully contested all three rounds of Q-School to earn their cards. That’s a total of 14 competitive rounds and 252 holes over the last few weeks.

Bastian AMAT (FRA) -21, who tied 7th to also advance, turned pro ahead of Final Stage Q-School having been exempted into Second Stage due to his high World Amateur Golf Ranking.

Screenshot 2024-11-14 at 16.18.36

Screenshot 2024-11-14 at 16.18.49

Qualifiers – Final Results (Graphic: DP World Tour)

David LAW (SCO) -17, Eddie PEPPERELL (ENG) and Irish amateur Max KENNEDY (IRL) all finished on -17 to miss out on a card by 1-shot. A final round 64 from Kennedy will hopefully bolster his confidence ahead of turning pro and starting out on the Challenge Tour.

Play in Round 5 on Tuesday was suspended at 3.50pm local time with 20 players still to complete a few holes of their rounds. Due to a severe weather forecast for Wednesday play only re-started at 8.30am on Thursday with the final round tee times slightly delayed. A 24 hour delay to the playing of such an important round will no doubt have tested the nerves of the field.

Screenshot 2024-11-14 at 16.16.22

GB&I & Amateurs Final Results (Graphic: DP World Tour)

83 players made the 72 hole 65 player and ties cut which fell at -7 on Monday. These players are now eligible for the Challenge Tour in 2025.

Vince VAN VEEN (NED) produced the low round of the tournament in Round 3 with a 12-birdie 59 (-12) on the par 71 Lakes Course.

22 GB&I players missed this cut as shown below.

Screenshot 2024-11-11 at 17.01.48

Screenshot 2024-11-11 at 17.02.06

Round 4 GB&I Missed Cut Leaderboard (Graphic: DP World Tour)

Click here to view the – DP World Tour 2024 Q-School – Final Stage Results

__________________________________________________

INTRODUCTION

The DP World Tour Q-School consists of three stages; First, Second and Final.

This post covers FINAL STAGE QUALIFYING which is being played at Infinitum Golf in Tarragona, Spain between the 8th-13th November.

My focus remains on the amateur players, the Great British & Irish (GB&I) professionals, any newly turned professionals from abroad and all of the 1st and 2nd Stage Q-School Winners.

Earlier articles have covered the nine FIRST STAGE and four SECOND STAGE events which have led us to this week’s FINAL STAGE.

156 players will battle over six rounds for a top 20 and ties finish and a place on the DP World Tour for the 2025 season. The number of places available has been reduced from 25 and ties this year.

The Final Results will be added to this article in due course.

More information on the whole 2024 Qualifying School can be found in the Appendix at the end of this article.

img_2805

COMPETITION AND FIELD 

156 players will play a total of six rounds or 108 holes over Infinitum’s two championship courses; the Lakes which plays 7,001 yards (par 71) and the Hills which is slightly shorter at 6,956 yards (par 72).

100 players – 94 qualifiers and 6 alternates – came through the four Second Stage competitions with the remaining 56 being exempted into Final Stage through their recent endeavours on the DP World Tour and Challenge Tour.

36 Great British & Irish (GB&I) players will be competing this week; 20 came through Second Stage with 16 being exempt.

3 amateurs have made it through to the Finals; namely Tiger Christensen (GER), Max Kennedy (IRL) and the Amateur champion Jacob Skov Olesen (DEN).

Alternates from Second Stage will be added to the field in the event of any withdrawals.

After two rounds are played on both the Hills and Lakes courses (72 holes) the field will be cut to the leading 65 players and ties (previously 70). The final 36 holes will then be played on the Lakes Course over the remaining two competition days.

Here is an alphabetical list of the 51 players that I am specifically following with details of their Q-School journeys so far: –

Great British & Irish (36)
Callan BARROW (ENG) – 2nd Las Pinaillas
Joshua BERRY (ENG) – 2nd Las Pinaillas
Charlie CROCKETT (ENG) – 1st Stage Donnington Grove / 2nd Desert Springs
Jack DAVIDSON (WAL) – 2nd Las Pinaillas
Will ENEFER (ENG) – 2nd Las Pinaillas
Rhys ENOCH (WAL) – EX Challenge Tour 2024 Ranked 21st-45th
Giles EVANS (ENG) – 1st Stage The Players Club / 2nd Desert Springs
Ryan EVANS (ENG) – 1st Stage The Players Club / 2nd Isla Canela Links
Jack FLOYDD (ENG) – 1st Stage Horsens GK / 2nd Desert Springs
Stephen GALLACHER (SCO) – EX DP World Tour Career Money List Top 75
Bailey GILL (ENG) – 1st Huddersfield GC / 2nd Desert Springs
Chris HANSON (ENG) – 1st Stage Huddersfield GC / 2nd Las Pinaillas
David HORSEY (ENG) – EX Challenge Tour 2024 Ranked 21st-45th
Toby HUNT (WAL) – 1st Golf de Léry Poses / 2nd Desert Springs
Gary HURLEY (IRL) – EX Challenge Tour 2024 Ranked 21st-45th
Sam HUTSBY (ENG) – EX Challenge Tour 2024 Ranked 21st-45th
Frank KENNEDY (ENG) – EX Challenge Tour 2024 Ranked 21st-45th
Max KENNEDY (IRL) AM1st Stage Horsens GK / 2nd Isla Canela Links
David LAW (SCO) – EX DP World Tour 2024 Ranked 111th-145th 
Tom LEWIS (ENG) – 2nd Isla Canela Links
Ryan LUMSDEN (SCO) – 2nd Isla Canela Links
Stuart MANLEY (WAL) – 2nd Fontanals
Dermot MCELROY (NIR) – EX Challenge Tour 2024 Ranked 21st-45th
James MORRISON (ENG) – EX DP World Tour 2024 Ranked 111th-145th 
Eddie PEPPERELL (ENG) – EX DP World Tour 2024 Ranked 111th-145th 
Alfie PLANT (ENG) – 2nd Desert Springs
Jamie RUTHERFORD (ENG) – EX Challenge Tour 2024 Ranked 21st-45th
Ben SCHMIDT (ENG) – EX Challenge Tour 2024 Ranked 21st-45th
Tom SHADBOLT (ENG) – 2nd Desert Springs
Lee SLATTERY (ENG) – 2nd Fontanals
Tom SLOMAN (ENG) – 1st Stage The Players Club / 2nd Desert Springs
Matthew SOUTHGATE (ENG) – EX DP World Tour 2024 Ranked 111th-145th 
Thomas THURLOWAY (ENG) – 1st Stage Millennium Golf / 2nd Las Pinaillas
Marc WARREN (SCO) – EX DP World Tour Career Money List Top 75
Oliver WILSON (ENG) – EX DP World Tour 2024 Ranked 111th-145th 
Chris WOOD (ENG) – EX DP World Tour Career Money List Top 75

Overseas (15)
Bastian AMAT (FRA) TURNED PRO 10/242nd Fontanals
Haydn BARRON (AUS) – 2nd Fontanals Co-Winner
David BORIBOONSUB (THA) – 1st Stage Donnington Grove / 2nd Las Pinaillas Winner
Matthew CHEUNG (HKO) -16 T3 – 1st Stage Millennium Golf Co-Winner / 2nd Fontanals
Tiger CHRISTENSEN (GER) AM1st Stage Golf Nazionale / 2nd Las Pinaillas
Dan ERICKSON (USA) – 1st Stage Arlandastad Winner / 2nd Las Pinaillas
Jakub HRINDA (SLO) – 1st Stage Huddersfield GC / 2nd Fontanals Co-Winner
Palmer JACKSON (USA) TURNED PRO 9/241st Arlandastad Winner / 2nd Desert Springs
Luis MASAVEU (ESP) TURNED PRO 10/242nd Fontanals
Jacob Skov OLESEN (DEN) AM 2nd Isla Canela Links
Clement SORDET (FRA) – 2nd Isla Canela Links Co-Winner
Max STEINLECHNER (AUS) – 2nd Isla Canela Links Co-Winner
Scott STEVENS (USA) – 1st Stage Golf Nazionale Co-Winner / 2nd Fontanals
Tim TILLMANNS (GER) – 1st Stage Donnington Grove Co-Winner / 2nd Isla Canela Links
Jiri ZUSKA (SLO) – 1st Golf de Léry Poses Winner  / 2nd Desert Springs Winner

EX – Exempt Into Final Stage

PRIZES

Players finishing in the The top 20 and ties will earn conditional membership (Category 18) on the DP World Tour and fully exempt status on the Challenge Tour for the 2025 season.

Players making the cut and finishing lower than 20th will earn conditional membership (Category 21) on the DP World Tour and fully exempt status on the Challenge Tour for the 2025 season.

Players who miss the Top 70 cut after 72 holes are eligible for membership of the Challenge Tour in 2025.

Each player will be ranked according to their final results with ties resolved by card play-off. For those that make the cut the initial focus will be on the best last 18 holes, then best last 36 holes and then the best 3rd or 4th round over the Lakes Course.

This finishing position ranking is important as it can make a big difference to the number of Tour starts recevied.

img_8606

Infinitum – 18th hole, Hills Course (Photo: http://www.infinitumliving.com)

APPENDIX

THE 2024 DP WORLD TOUR QUALIFYING SCHOOL SERIES

The DP World Tour (previously known as 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 test has grown into potentially a 252 hole marathon.

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

The 2024 European Tour Q-School entrance fee is £2,750 (2023: £2,500, 2022: £2,000, 2019: £1,800) with entries closed on 14th August 2024.

Male amateur golfers who are listed in positions 1-2,000 of the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) or have a handicap index of not more than +1.5 can enter.

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

From an amateur perspective, and subject to entering First Stage, exemptions into Second Stage are available to: –

  • the leading 3 entrants as at 14th August 2024 to a limit of 20th place in the WAGR; and
  • the leading 2 entrants as at 14th August 2024 to a limit of 10th place in the Global Amateur Ranking.

FIRST STAGE

First Stage consisted of nine 72 hole stroke play qualifying events.

Around 20% of each field, between 20-30 players, progressed from each event. The actual number of places were confirmed after all of the players had teed off on Day 1 of each qualifier. All players tied for the last qualifying position advanced to the Second Stage.

This year the DP World Tour introduced a 36 hole cut to First Stage removing players not within 12-shots of the final qualifying place. The 54 hole cut, where only players within 7-shots of the final qualifying place play the final round, also remained in place.

808 players competed in First Stage this year. This included 199 players from GB&I (24.6%) and 76 amateurs (9.4%). 190 of them progressed to Second Stage. 50 were from GB&I and 10 were amateurs.

For more information on this year’s First Stage please read – DP World Tour Q-School – 2024 First Stage Preview & Results

Here are links to all of the results from the First Stage events:-

27th-30th Aug 2024 1. GOLF NAZIONALE, SUTRI, ITALYGolf Nazionale Q-School Results

27th-30th Aug 2024 2. THE PLAYERS CLUB, ENGLAND The Players Club Q-School Results

3rd-6th Sept 2024 3. MILLENIUM GOLF, BELGIUM – Millennium Golf Q-School Results

3rd-6th Sept 2024 4. HUDDERSFIELD GC, ENGLAND Huddersfield Q-School Results

10th-13th Sept 2024 5. ARLANDASTAD GOLF, SWEDEN Arlandastad Q-School Results

11th-14th Sept 2024 6. GOLFCLUB SCHLOSS, AUSTRIA Ebreichsdorf Q-School Results

17th-20th Sept 2024 7. DONNINGTON GROVE GC, ENGLAND – Donnington Grove Q-School Results

24th-28th Sept 2024 8. HORSENS GOLFKLUB, DENMARK Horsens Q-School Results

24th-28th Sept 2024 9. GOLF DE LÉRY POSES, FRANCE – Golf de Léry Q-School Results

__________________________________________________

SECOND STAGE

The Second Qualifying Stage consists of four separate 72-hole events.

31st October – 3rd November 2024

DESERT SPRINGS RESORT, ALMERIA, SPAINDesert Springs Q-School Results

FORTANALS GOLF CLUB, GIRONA, SPAINFortanals Q-School Results

ISLA CANELA (LINKS COURSE), HUELVA, SPAINIsla Canela Q-School Results

GOLF LAS PINAILLAS, ALBACETE, SPAINGolf Las Pinaillas Q-School Results

The leading three amateur entrants – down from five last year – as at 14th August 2024 to a limit of 20th place in the WAGR were exempt from First Stage and could start their Q-School journeys at Second Stage. Bastian Amat (FRA), Wenyi Ding (CHN) and Jacob Skov Olesen (DEN) earned these exemptions.

The leading two amateur entrants as at 14th August 2024 to a limit of 10th place in the Global Amateur Pathway Ranking were also exempt from First Stage. James Ashfield (WAL) and Luis Masaveu (ESP) enjoyed these exemptions. Ashfield turned pro in late September 2024 ahead of Second Stage but retained his exemption.

There is no cut but players are able to withdrawal after each round if they wish to.

Sudden death play-offs are held to resolve ties at this Stage and provide an Alternates list.

The actual number of places available for Final Stage are again confirmed after all of the players have teed off on Day 1 of each event. Sudden death play-offs are held to resolve ties at this Stage.

For more information on this year’s Second Stage please read – DP World Tour Q-School – 2024 Second Stage Preview & Results

FINAL STAGE

The Final Qualifying Stage consists of 108 holes on the Lakes and Hills Courses at Infinitum Golf, previously known as Lumine GC, in Tarragona, Spain.

8th-13th November 2024

INFINITUM, TARRAGONA, SPAIN

Infinitum replaced PGA Catalunya Resort in 2017 and will be hosting Final Stage for the sixth time this year. No Q-School was held in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A new 3 year contract through to 2027 was announced on 12th November 2024 which will see the Tarragona venue continue to stage the Finals.

156 players will play two rounds over each of the Lakes and Hills Courses. After these 72 holes the field will be cut to the leading 65 players and ties who will play a final 36 holes.

The leading 20 players (plus those tied for 20th place) – it has previously been the leading 25 players and ties – in the Final Stage competition will earn Conditional Membership of The DP World Tour (and fully exempt status on the Challenge Tour) for the 2025 season. On average the medalist receives 27 tournament starts whilst the 25th qualifier has receives 18.

Those who make the 72 hole cut but finish outside the Top 20 will also earn a membership category, albeit a lower one, on the DP World Tour (and Challenge Tour).

Players who miss the cut will be eligible for membership of the Challenge Tour.

Every player is ranked according to their finishing score, card count backs assisting in this process, and this ranking matters when it comes to future playing opportunities.

ME.

Copyright © 2014-2024, Mark Eley. All rights reserved.

DP World Tour Q-School – 2023 Final Stage Preview & Results

15th November 2023

RESULTS

33 players finished the Final Stage event in the top 25 and ties places thus earning conditional membership on the DP World Tour for the 2024 season.

A final score of 414 (-14) or better was required at Infinitum Golf in Spain to make the grade.

Freddy SCHOTT (GER, 22) who finished the six round marathon on -27 earned medalist honours from Filippo CELLI (ITA, 23) -25. Schott earned €20,636 (£18,044) in prize money for his victory with Celli collecting €14,904 (£13,032).

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Freddy Schott (Photo: DP World Tour Q-School) 

The best performance prize must go to 18 year old English amateur Joshua BERRY who finished tied 16th to secure his card. Ranked 560th in WAGR Joshua, who had his Yorkshire teammate George Hanson on the bag for his Q-School journey, will now turn pro.

As always a number of players came through the field on the final day to claim their prizes. Sebastian GARCIA (ESP) shot a final round 62 (-9) to finish in 8th place, Kiradech APHINBARNRAT (THA) a 64 (-7) to finish tied 14th and Renato PARATORE (ITA) 65 (-6) to end up tied 11th.

Mattis BESARD (BEL), Sam JONES (NZL), Nicolo GALLETTI (USA), Joshua BERRY (ENG), Jonathan GØTH-RASMUSSEN (DEN), Jannik DE BRUYN (GER), Søren BROHOLT LIND (DEN), Joe DEAN (ENG) and James NICHOLAS (USA) deserve extra credit as they completed the full Q-School examination, i.e. making it through all three stages to achieve their goals.

Here is a list of the 33 players who secured their DP World Tour cards with their Final Stage results and ranking positions: –

Screenshot 2023-11-16 at 11.41.03Screenshot 2023-11-16 at 11.41.23Screenshot 2023-11-16 at 11.41.46

Top 25 Final Stage Results (Graphic: DP World Tour) 

7 Great British & Irish (GB&I) players earned their cards. Well done to Tom LEWIS (ENG), Jack DAVIDSON (WAL), Andrew WILSON (ENG), Garrick PORTEOUS (ENG), Joshua BERRY (ENG), Rhys ENOCH (WAL) and Joe DEAN (ENG).

Garrick PORTEOUS (ENG) eagled the par 5 18th whilst Rhys ENOCH (WAL) and Joe DEAN (ENG) birdied it to move the right side of the ‘card line’.

16 of the 78 players, exactly half of the starting field, who made the 72-hole -5 cut were from GB&I: –

Screenshot 2023-11-16 at 11.36.27

GB&I Players Who Made The Cut – Final Stage Results (Graphic: DP World Tour) 

All is not lost for those that finished outside the top 25 places. Players who made the cut but finished lower than 25th will earn conditional membership, in a lower category, on the DP World Tour and will have fully exempt status on the Challenge Tour for the 2024 season.

Players that missed the cut may gain some starts on the Challenge Tour during 2024 simply by getting to the Final Stage.

23 of the 39 GB&I starters missed the 72-hole cut: –

Screenshot 2023-11-16 at 11.31.51Screenshot 2023-11-16 at 12.08.31

GB&I Players Who Missed The Cut – Final Stage Results (Graphic: DP World Tour) 

In addition to Joshua Berry two other amateurs were competing in Final Stage, James ASHFIELD (WAL) and Maxence GIBOUDOT (FRA). After making a solid start over the first two days a disastrous third round left Ashfield with too much to do to make the cut. Giboudot made the cut and finished in a creditable 59th on -7.

Click here to view the – DP World Tour 2023 Final Stage Q-School Results

ME

________________________________________

7th November 2023 (Updated 8th November 2023)

INTRODUCTION

I am following all of the amateurs, GB&I professionals, First Stage and Second Stage medalists and a few other overseas ‘players of interest’ through the 2023 DP World Tour Qualifying School series.

This post covers FINAL STAGE QUALIFYING which is being played at Infinitum Golf in Tarragona, Spain between the 10th – 15th November.

Q-School consists of three stages; First, Second and Final. Earlier articles have covered the nine FIRST STAGE and four SECOND STAGE events which have led us to this week’s FINAL STAGE.

More information on the 2023 Qualifying School can also be found in the Appendix at the end of this article.

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COMPETITION AND FIELD 

156 players will play a total of six rounds or 108 holes over Infinitum’s two championship courses; the Lakes which plays 7,001 yards (par 71) and the Hills which is slightly shorter at 6,944 yards (par 72).

99 players came through the four Second Stage competitions with the remaining 57 being exempted into Final Stage through their past endeavours.

39 Great British & Irish (GB&I) players will be competing this week; 29 came through Second Stage with 10 being exempt.

3 amateurs have made it through to the Finals, namely James Ashfield (WAL), Joshua Berry (ENG) and Maxence Giboudot (FRA).

Angel Ayora (ESP) and Pietro Bovari (ITA) have both turned professional ahead of play starting at Infinitum.

After two rounds are played on both the Hills and Lakes courses (72 holes) the field will be cut to the leading 70 players and ties. The final 36 holes will then be played on the Lakes Course over the remaining two competition days.

Here is an alphabetical list of the 61 players that I am specifically following with details of their Q-School journeys so far: –

Great British & Irish (39)
James ASHFIELD (WAL) AM 1st Stage Arlandastad / 2nd Las Pinaillas
Joshua BERRY (ENG) AM -12 2nd – 1st Stage Donnington Grove / 2nd Fontanals GC
Gary BOYD (ENG) – Challenge Tour OoM / 2nd Isla Canela Links
Joe BROOKS (ENG) – 2nd Desert Springs Alt
Steven BROWN (ENG) – EX Challenge Tour OoM
Jonathan CALDWELL (N.I.) – EX Challenge Tour OoM
Jack DAVIDSON (WAL) – Challenge Tour OoM / 2nd Desert Springs
Joe DEAN (ENG) – 1st Stage Donnington Grove / 2nd Las Pinaillas
Owen EDWARDS (WAL) – 1st Stage Millennium / 2nd Desert Springs
Rhys ENOCH (WAL) – DP World Tour Member Cat 6a / 2nd Desert Springs
Giles EVANS (ENG) – 1st Stage The Players Club / 2nd Isla Canela Links
Oliver FARR (WAL) – EX Challenge Tour OoM
OJ FARRELL (ENG) – DP World Tour Member Cat 20 / 2nd Las Pinaillas
Oliver FISHER (ENG) – DP World Tour Member Cat 20 / 2nd Desert Springs
Calum FYFE (SCO) -5 T10 – 1st Stage Ebreichsdorf / 2nd Fontanals GC
Luke HARRIES (WAL) – 1st Stage Arlandastad / 2nd Isla Canela Links Alt
Jack HAWKSBY (ENG) – 1st Stage Millennium / 2nd Isla Canela Links
David HOWELL (ENG) – EX DP World Tour Career Money List
Craig HOWIE (SCO) – EX Challenge Tour OoM
Sam HUTSBY (ENG) – EX Challenge Tour OoM
Tom LEWIS (ENG) – EX Challenge Tour OoM
Ryan LUMSDEN (SCO) –Challenge Tour OoM / 2nd Las Pinaillas
George MASON (ENG) – 1st Stage Donnington Grove / 2nd Desert Springs
Dermot MCELROY (N.I.) – Challenge Tour OoM / 2nd Las Pinaillas
Richard MCEVOY (ENG) – DP World Tour Past Winner / 2nd Desert Springs
Ruaidhri MCGEE (IRL) -4 T15 – Challenge Tour OoM / 2nd Fontanals GC
Callum MCNEILL (SCO) – 1st Stage Royal Oak / 2nd Desert Springs
Conor O’ROURKE (IRL) – 1st Stage Royal Oak / 2nd Las Pinaillas
Garrick PORTEOUS (ENG) – 2nd Desert Springs Alt
Mark POWER (IRL) TURNED PRO 9/231st Stage Ebreichsdorf / 2nd Fontanals GC
Conor PURCELL (IRL) – EX Challenge Tour OoM
Oliver ROBERTS (SCO) – 1st Stage Golf De Moliets / 2nd Isla Canela Links
James RUTH (ENG) – 1st Stage Millennium / 2nd Desert Springs
Jamie RUTHERFORD (ENG) – EX Challenge Tour OoM
Ben SCHMIDT (ENG) – 1st Stage Golf De Moliets / 2nd Isla Canela Links
Tom SHADBOLT (ENG) – DP World Tour Member Cat A1 / 2nd Desert Springs
Marc WARREN (SCO) – EX DP World Tour OoM
Andrew WILSON (ENG) –DP World Tour Member Cat 5 / 2nd Las Pinaillas
Daniel YOUNG (SCO) – Challenge Tour OoM / 2nd Desert Springs

Overseas (12)
Angel AYORA (ESP) TURNED PRO 11/23 – 1st Stage Donnington Grove WINNER / 2nd Desert Spring
Pietro BOVARI (ITA) TURNED PRO 11/23 – 1st Stage Bogogno / 2nd Isla Canela Links
Hamish BROWN (DEN) – Challenge Tour OoM / 2nd Fontanals GC WINNER
Martin COUVRA (FRA) TURNED PRO 9/23EX Challenge Tour OoM
Jannik DE BRUYN (GER) – 1st Stage Royal Oak / 2nd Desert Springs WINNER
Maxence GIBOUDOT (FRA) AM1st Stage Millennium / 2nd Las Pinaillas
Sam JONES (NZL) TURNED PRO 11/23 -9 T4 – 1st Stage The Players Club / 2nd Fontanals GC 
Philipp KATICH (GER) – 1st Stage Ebreichsdorf / 2nd Isla Canela Links WINNER
Ronan KLEU (SUI) TURNED PRO 7/231st Stage Ebreichsdorf / 2nd Isla Canela Links
Connor MCKINNEY (AUS) – 1st Stage Millennium / 2nd Las Pinaillas WINNER
Joel MOSCATEL NACHSHON (ESP) – 1st Stage Bogogno WINNER / 2nd Las Pinaillas
Matias SANCHEZ (AUS) – 1st Stage Rosebud C.C WINNER / 2nd Isla Canela Links

EX – Exempt Into Final Stage

PRIZES

Players finishing in the The top 25 and ties will earn conditional membership (Category 18) on the DP World Tour and fully exempt status on the Challenge Tour for the 2024 season.

Players making the cut and finishing lower than 25th will earn conditional membership (Category 21) on the DP World Tour and fully exempt status on the Challenge Tour for the 2024 season.

Players who miss the Top 70 cut after 72 holes are eligible for membership of the Challenge Tour in 2024.

Each player will be ranked according to their final results with ties resolved by card play-off. For those that make the cut the initial focus will be on the best last 18 holes, then best last 36 holes and then the best 3rd or 4th round over the Lakes Course.

This finishing position ranking is important as it can make a big difference to the number of Tour starts recevied. To illustrate this Pre-COVID the Final Stage medalist could expect to receive 27 DP World Tour starts whilst the 25th placed qualifier garnered 18.

img_8606

Infinitum – 18th hole, Hills Course (Photo: http://www.infinitumliving.com)

APPENDIX

The 2023 DP World Tour Qualifying School Series

The DP World Tour (previously known as 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 test has grown into potentially a 252 hole marathon.

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

The 2023 European Tour Q-School entrance fee was £2,500 (2022: £2,000, 2019: £1,800) with entries closed on 16th August 2023.

Male amateur golfers with a handicap below 0.4 (i.e. scratch) and who have appeared in positions 1-2,000 of the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) in 2023 could enter.

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

First Stage

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

Around 20% of each field, around 20-30 players, progressed from each event. All players tied for the last qualifying position advanced to the Second Stage.

This year the DP World Tour introduced a 36 hole cut to First Stage removing players not within 12-shots of the final qualifying place. The 54 hole cut, where only players within 7-shots of the final qualifying place play the final round, also remained in place.

There were 70 amateur entries with 17 (24%) of these successful.

For more information on this year’s First Stage please read – DP World Tour Q-School – 2023 First Stage Preview & Results

Here are links to all of the results from the First Stage events:-

29-01 Sept 2023 SECTION A – THE PLAYERS CLUB, ENGLAND – The Players Q-School Results

29-01 Sept 2023 SECTION A – ROSEBUD C.C., AUSTRALIARosebud Q-School Results

05-08 Sept 2023 SECTION B – MILLENNIUM GOLF CLUB, BELGIUMMillennium Q-School Results

05-08 Sept 2023 SECTION C – ARLANDASTAD GOILF, SWEDENArlandastad Q-School Results

13-16 Sept 2023 SECTION C – S. EBREICHSDORF, AUSTRIA – S. Ebreichsdorf Q-School Results

19-22 Sept 2023 SECTION D – BOGOGNO GOLF RESORT, ITALY – Bogogno Q-School Results

19-22 Sept 2023 SECTION D – DONNINGTON GROVE G.C., ENGLAND – Don. Grove Q-School Results

26-29 Sept 2023 SECTION E – ROYAL OAK G.C., DENMARKRoyal Oak Q-School Results

03-06 Oct 2023 SECTION F – GOLF DE MOLIETS, FRANCE – Golf de Moliets Q-School Results

SECOND STAGE

The Second Qualifying Stage consists of four separate 72-hole events.

2nd – 5th November 2023

DESERT SPRINGS RESORT, ALMERIA, SPAINDesert Springs Q-School Results

GOLF LAS PINAILLAS, ALBACETE, SPAINGolf Las Pinaillas Q-School Results

ISLA CANELA (LINKS COURSE), HUELVA, SPAINIsla Canela Q-School Results

FORTANALS GOLF CLUB, GIRONA, SPAINFortanals Q-SChool Results

The leading five amateur entrants as at 16th August 2023 to a limit of 20th place in the WAGR were exempt from First Stage and could start their Q-School journeys at Second Stage. John Gough (ENG) was the only player to take advantage of this exemption.

There was no cut but players are able to withdrawal after each round if they wished to.

Sudden death play-offs were held to resolve ties at this Stage and provide an Alternates list.

90 places for Final Stage were initially made available but this number subsequently increased to 99 due to withdrawals.

There were 15 amateurs still standing by this point with 5 (33%) of them progressing.

FINAL STAGE

The Final Qualifying Stage consists of 108 holes on the Lakes and Hills Courses at Infinitum Golf, previously known as Lumine GC, in Tarragona, Spain.

10th – 15th November 2023

INFINITUM, TARRAGONA, SPAIN

Infinitum replaced PGA Catalunya Resort in 2017 and will be hosting Final Stage for the fifth time this year. No Q-School was held in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The current 3 year contract with the Spanish venue to stage the Finals expires in 2024.

156 players will play two rounds over each of the Lakes and Hills Courses. After these 72 holes the field will be cut to the leading 70 players and ties who will play a final 36 holes.

The leading 25 players (plus those tied for 25th place) in the Final Stage competition will earn Conditional Membership of The DP World Tour (and fully exempt status on the Challenge Tour) for the 2024 season. On average the medalist receives 27 tournament starts whilst the 25th qualifier has receives 18.

Those who make the 72 hole cut but finish outside the Top 25 will also earn a membership category, albeit a lower one, on the DP World Tour (and Challenge Tour).

Players who miss the cut will be eligible for membership of the Challenge Tour.

Every player is ranked according to their finishing score, card count backs assisting in this process, and this ranking matters when it comes to future playing opportunities.

ME.

Copyright © 2014-2023, Mark Eley. All rights reserved.

DP World Tour Q-School – 2022 Final Stage Preview & Results

16th November 2022 – Updated

The DP World Tour’s FINAL STAGE QUALIFYING event, played at Infinitum in Tarragona, Spain came to a conclusion on 16th November 2022.

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I have been following all of the amateurs, GB&I professionals, First Stage and Second Stage Qualifying medalists and a few other overseas ‘players of interest’ throughout the Q-School process.

Here is a summary of their final results after 6 rounds of Final Stage play: –

PLAYERS WHO FINISHED IN THE TOP 25 AND TIES
These players have earned conditional membership (Category 17) on the DP World Tour and fully exempt status on the Challenge Tour for the 2023 season.

1st  -29  Simon FORSSTRÖM (SWE) – EX Challenge Tour OoM  WINNER
3rd -26  Daniel BROWN (ENG) – EX Challenge Tour OoM
T13 -19  Gary HURLEY (IRL) – Alps Tour OoM / 2nd Stage Emporda
T13 -19  Sam HUTSBY (ENG) – 1st Stage Golf D’Hardelot / 2nd Stage Isla Canela
T19 -18  David HORSEY (ENG) – EX DP World Tour OoM
T19 -18  Jens FAHRBRING (SWE) – Challenge Tour OoM / 2nd Stage Emporda CO-WINNER
T23 -17  Andrew WILSON (ENG) – EX DP World Tour OoM
T23 -17  Garrick PORTEOUS (ENG) – DP World Tour Member / 2nd Stage Emporda
T23 -17  John MURPHY (IRL) – EX Challenge Tour OoM

A total of 28 players finished in the top 25 and ties positions with -17 being the cut-off.

Simon Forsström (SWE) was medalist with an impressive 399 (-29) total, two shots better than France’s David Ravetto who won the Brabazon Trophy in 2020.

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Simon Forsström (Photo: DP World Tour)

Christoffer Bring (DEN), Tobias Edén (SWE), Sam Hutsby (ENG) and Gunner Wiebe (USA) all completed the full Q-School, working their way through the First, Second and Final Stages to secure their DP World Tour cards.

Here are the round-by-round scores of the 28 players who earned their DP World Tour cards:-

Screenshot 2022-11-16 at 15.06.21

Screenshot 2022-11-16 at 17.41.03

Screenshot 2022-11-16 at 17.41.23

DP World Tour Q-School Results

PLAYERS WHO MADE THE TOP 70 AND TIES 72 HOLE CUT AND FINISHED BELOW 25TH PLACE
These players have earned conditional membership (Category 20) on the DP World Tour and are fully exempt on the Challenge Tour for the 2023 season.

T29 -16  Oliver FARR (WAL) – DP World Tour Member / 2nd Stage Desert Springs
T32 -15  OJ FARRELL (ENG) – Challenge Tour OoM / 2nd Stage Isla Canela
T32 -15  Ross MCGOWAN (ENG) – EX DP World Tour OoM
T35 -14  Tom MURRAY (ENG) – 1st Stage The Players Club / 2nd Stage Emporda CO-WINNER
T35 -14  Marco PENGE (ENG) – EX Challenge Tour OoM
T35 -14  Takumi KANAYA (JAP) – 1st Stage Mottram Hall WINNER / 2nd Stage Isla Canela
T43 -13  Tom LEWIS (ENG) – EX DP World Tour Past Winner
T43 -13  Pavan SAGOO (ENG) – PGA EuroPro Tour OoM / 2nd Stage Emporda
T43 -13  Daniel O’LOUGHLIN (ENG) – 1st Stage Mottram Hall / 2nd Stage Isla Canela
T43 -13  Sam BAIRSTOW (ENG) TURNED PRO 9/22 – WAGR Top 10 / 2nd Stage Isla Canela
T43 -13  Chris WOOD (ENG) – EX DP World Tour Past Winner
T43 -13  Chris PAISLEY (ENG) – DP World Tour Member / 2nd Stage Desert Springs
T51 -12  Callan BARROW (ENG) AM – 1st Stage Mottram Hall / 2nd Stage Las Colinas
T56 -11  Craig HOWIE (SCO) – EX DP World Tour OoM
T66   -6  Liam JOHNSTON (SCO) – Challenge Tour OoM / 2nd Stage Desert Springs
T68   -5  Gary BOYD (ENG) – 1st Stage Arlandastad / 2nd Stage Desert Springs
70th  -4  Oliver FISHER (ENG) – DP World Tour Member / 2nd Stage Isla Canela
WD        Ashley CHESTERS (ENG) – EX DP World Tour OoM (after 90 holes -4) 

Callan Barrow was the only amateur to make the cut and ultimately finished in a very credible tied 51st position. With Challenge Tour status secured for 2023 he will inevitably turn pro in the coming weeks.

PLAYERS WHO MISSED THE TOP 70 AND TIES CUT AFTER 72 HOLES
Players failing to make the cut are eligible for membership of the Challenge Tour in 2023.

T73   -4  Jack SENIOR (ENG) – EX DP World Tour OoM
T73   -4  Stephen GALLACHER (SCO) – EX DP World Tour Career Money List
T73   -4  Harry GODDARD (ENG) – 1st Stage Golf D’Hardelot / 2nd Stage Emporda
T73   -4  Ivan CANTERO GUTIERREZ (ESP) – Challenge Tour OoM / 2nd Stage Las Colinas WINNER
T73   -4  Steven BROWN (ENG) – EX DP World Tour Past Winner
T85   -3  Cormac SHARVIN (ENG) – DP World Tour Member / 2nd Stage Las Colinas
T85   -3  Hayden HOPEWELL (AUS) AM – 1st Stage Arlandastad / 2nd Stage Desert Springs
T85   -3  Simon DYSON (ENG) – EX DP World Tour Career Money List
T85   -3  Joel SJOHOLM (SWE) – Challenge Tour OoM / 2nd Stage Isla Canela CO-WINNER
T93   -2  Jonathan CALDWELL (NI) – EX DP World Tour Past Winner
T93   -2  Alfie PLANT (ENG) – EX Challenge Tour OoM
T93   -2  Tom GANDY (IoM) – DP World Tour Member / 2nd Stage Desert Springs
T93   -2  Matt FORD (ENG) – DP World Tour Member / 2nd Stage Emporda
T100  -1  Thomas THURLOWAY (ENG) – 1st Stage Lyngbygaard / 2nd Stage Desert Springs
T103 Ev  Paul DUNNE (IRL) – EX DP World Tour Past Winner
T103 Ev  Craig ROSS (SCO) – 1st Stage Golf D’Hardelot / 2nd Stage Desert Springs
T103 Ev  Angus FLANAGAN (ENG) – 1st Stage Arlandastad / 2nd Stage Emporda
T114 +2  Philipp KATICH (GER) – 1st Stage Golf D’Hardelot / 2nd Stage Desert Springs WINNER
T123 +3  James ALLAN (ENG) – PGA EuroPro Tour OoM / 2nd Stage Las Colinas
T123 +3  Braden THORNBERRY (USA) – 1st Stage The Players Club / 2nd Stage Isla Canela
T123 +3  Luke HARRIES (WAL) AM 1st Stage Arlandastad / 2nd Stage Las Colinas
T131 +4  Michael STEWART (SCO) – 1st Stage The Players Club CO-WINNER / 2nd Stage Las Colinas
T131 +4  David HOWELL (ENG) – EX DP World Tour Career Money List
T131 +4  Christian BANKE (USA) – 1st Stage Montado / 2nd Stage Isla Canela
T137 +6  David HAGUE (ENG) – 1st Stage Mottram Hall / 2nd Stage Desert Springs
T144 +8  Pieter MOOLMAN (RSA) – Sunshine Tour OoM / 2nd Stage Isla Canela CO-WINNER 
T146 +9  Hamish BROWN (DEN) -5 T23 – Nordic Golf league OoM / 2nd Stage Emporda
149th +13  Kyle MICHEL (AUS) – 1st Stage Rosebud / 2nd Stage Las Colinas
WD          Luis MASAVEU (ESP) AM – 1st Stage Montado / 2nd Stage Emporda (after 36 holes -3)
WD          Richard MCEVOY (ENG) – EX DP World Tour Past Winner (after 54 holes +2)
WD          Ben STOW (ENG) – Challenge Tour OoM / 2nd Stage Las Colinas (after 54 holes +12)

EX – Exempt Player 

Click this link to view the DP World Tour’s full – FINAL STAGE Q-SCHOOL RESULTS

Every player will be ranked according to their final results with ties resolved by card play-off. For those that make the cut the initial focus will be on the best last 18 holes, then best last 36 holes and then the best 3rd or 4th round over the Lakes Course.

This finishing position ranking is very important as it can make a big difference to the number of Tour starts recevied. To illustrate this Pre-COVID the Final Stage medalist could expect to receive 27 DP World Tour starts whilst the 25th placed qualifier garnered 18.

The DP World Tour announced on 3rd November that exempt players in categories 1-17 in the 2023 season would be guaranteed minimum earnings of $150,000 if they compete in 15 or more events. As the Top 25 and Ties finishers at Q-School gain Category 17 membership they will be eligible for this payment. Players who made the cut but finished below 25th place earned Category 20 membership which excludes them from this arrangement.

img_8606

Infinitum – 18th hole, Hills Course (Photo: http://www.infinitumliving.com)

156 players contested the DP World Tour’s FINAL STAGE QUALIFYING event which was played between 11th – 16th November 2022 at Infinitum, previously known as Lumine Golf Club, in Tarragona, Spain.

96 of these players came through the four Second Stage competitions with the remaining 60 players being exempted into Final Stage through their past endeavours.

45 Great British & Irish (GB&I) players were in the field; 26 coming through Second Stage with 19 being exempt.

Four amateurs made it through to the Finals – Callan Barrow (ENG), Luke Harries (WAL), Hayden Hopewell (AUS) and Luis Masaveu (ESP).

A total of six rounds or 108 holes were played over the venue’s two championship courses; the Lakes which plays 7,001 yards (par 71) and the Hills which is slightly shorter at 6,944 yards (par 72).

After two rounds were played on both the Hills and Lakes courses (72 holes) the field was cut to the leading 70 players and ties. 72 players, including 24 from GB&I, made this cut which fell at -5. The final 36 holes were then played on the Lakes Course on the remaining two competition days.

The Q-School consists of three stages, First, Second and Final. More information on the 2022 Qualifying School can be found in the Appendix at the end of this article. Earlier articles on this website covered the FIRST STAGE and SECOND STAGE Qualifying School events.

APPENDIX

THE 2022 DP WORLD TOUR QUALIFYING SCHOOL SERIES

The DP World Tour (previously known as the European Tour until November 2021) Qualifying School was first played in 1976, four years after the European Tour was founded. What started out as a 72 hole test has grown into potentially a 252 hole marathon.

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

The 2022 European Tour Q-School entrance fee is £2,000 (2019: £1,800).

Male amateur golfers with a handicap below 0.4 (i.e. scratch) and who have appeared in positions 1-2,000 of the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) in 2022 can enter.

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

From an amateur perspective the leading 5 entrants to First Stage as at 17th August 2022 to a limit of 20th place in the WAGR are fast-tracked straight into Second Stage.

FIRST STAGE

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

Around 20% of each field, normally 15-30 players, progressed from each event. The actual number of places were confirmed after all of the players had teed off on Day 1 of each qualifier.

A 54-hole cut, where players needed to be within 7 shots of the final allocated qualifying place, reduced the field for the final round. Ties for the final qualifying place at the end of play also advanced.

For more information on this year’s First Stage please read – DP World Tour Q-School – 2022 First Stage Preview & Results

Here are links to all of the results from the First Stage events:-

4-8 Oct 2022 SECTION F – MOTTRAM HALL, ENGLAND – Mottram Hall Q-School Results

4-7 Oct  2022 SECTION F – GOLF D’HARDELOT, FRANCE – Hardelot Q-School Results

27-30 Sept 2022 SECTION E – LYNGBYGAARD GOLF, DENMARK – Lyngbygaard Q-School Results

20-23 Sept 2022 SECTION D – BOGOGNO GOLF RESORT, ITALY – Bogogno Q-School Results

14-17 Sept 2022 SECTION C – HAUGSCHLAG, AUSTRIA – Haugschlag Q-School Results

13-16 Sept 2022 SECTION C – ARLANDASTAD GOLF, SWEDEN – Arlandastad Q-School Results

7-10 Sept 2022 SECTION B – MONTADO, PORTUGAL – Montado Q-School Results

30-2 Sept 2022 SECTION A – THE PLAYERS CLUB, ENGLAND – The Players Q-School Results

30-2 Sept 2022 SECTION A – ROSEBUD CC, AUSTRALIA – Rosebud Q-School Results

SECOND STAGE

Four events were played concurrently at Desert Springs GC, Emporda Golf, Isla Canela Links and Las Colinas G&CC, all in Spain. These competitions were played over 72 holes with no cut.

The actual number of places available for Final Stage were again confirmed after all of the players have teed off on Day 1 of each event. Sudden death play-offs were also held to resolve ties at this Stage.

For more information on this year’s First Stage please read – DP World Tour Q-School – 2022 Second Stage Preview & Results

Here are links to all of the results from the First Stage events:-

3-6 Nov 2022 – DESERT SPRINGS GC, SPAINDesert Springs Q-School Results

3-6 Nov 2022 – EMPORDA GOLF, SPAINEmporda Q-School Results

3-6 Nov 2022 – ISLA CANELA LINKS, SPAINIsla Canela Q-School Results

3-6 Nov 2022 – LAS COLINAS G&CC, SPAINLas Colinas Q-School Results

FINAL STAGE

The Final Qualifying Stage consists of 108 holes on the Lakes and Hills Courses at Infinitum, previously known as Lumine GC, in Tarragona, Spain. Infinitum / Lumine replaced PGA Catalunya Resort in 2017 and will be hosting Final Stage for the fourth time this year.

The Tour has entered a new 3 year contract, covering 2022-24, with the Spanish venue to stage the Finals.

156 players will play two rounds over each of the Hills and Lakes Courses. After these 72 holes the field will be cut to the leading 70 players and ties who will play a final 36 holes.

The leading 25 players (plus those tied for 25th place) in the Final Stage competition will earn Full Membership of The DP World Tour (and Challenge Tour) for the 2023 season. On average between 2014-19 the medalist has received 27 European Tour starts whilst the 25th qualifier has garnered 18.

Those who make the 72 hole cut but finish outside the Top 25 will also earn a membership category, albeit a lower one, on the DP World Tour (and Challenge Tour).

Players who miss the cut will be eligible for membership of the Challenge Tour.

Every player is ranked according to their finishing score, card count backs assisting in this process, and this ranking matters when it comes to future playing opportunities.

ME.

Copyright © 2014-2022, Mark Eley. All rights reserved.

European Tour Q-School – 2019 Final Stage Preview & Results

13th November 2019 (Updated 20th November 2019)

The European Tour’s FINAL STAGE QUALIFYING event was played between 15th – 20th November 2019 at Lumine Golf Club in Tarragona, Spain.

Lumine replaced PGA Catalunya Resort in 2017 and hosted Final Stage for the third consecutive time.

A total of six rounds or 108 holes were played over the venue’s two championship courses; the Lakes which plays 6,909 yards (par 71) and the Hills which is slightly longer at 6,975 yards (par 72).

img_8606

Lumine Beach & Golf Club – 18th hole, Hills Course (Photo: http://www.lumine.com)

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156 players from 28 different countries started Final Stage. 74 of them were exempt due to past performances and their previous status on the two tours, 79 were Second Stage Q-School qualifiers and the final 3 Second Stage Alternates (Gary STAL FRA,  Mathias EGGENBERGER AUT and Filip MRUZEK CZH).

Bjarki PETURSSON (ISL) turned Pro ahead of Final Stage which meant that no amateurs were competing in the event this year.

40 Great British & Irish players made the original lineup, 23 coming through Second Stage with the remainder being exempt. Unfortunately Paul DUNNE (IRE) withdrew before play commenced with a wrist injury taking our starters down to 39.

____________________________________________

77 players on -4 or better made the four round Top 70 cut and went on to play the final 36 holes exclusively on the Lakes Course. 22 GB&I players were amongst this number.

28 players finished tied 25th or better to earn a ‘full’ membership category on both the European and Challenge Tours for the 2020 season.

Benjamin POKE (DEN) earned medalist honours with a superb -25 total score.

8 GB&I players secured their cards – well done to Laurie CANTER (ENG), Garrick PORTEOUS (ENG), Marcus ARMITAGE (ENG), Bradley DREDGE (WAL), Jonathan CALDWELL (NIR), Dave COUPLAND (ENG), Toby TREE (ENG) and Dale WHITNELL (ENG).

Daniel YOUNG (SCO) and Tom GANDY (IOM) sadly missed out by one shot finishing tied 29th.

On average over the last 5 years the Final Stage medalist has received 29 European Tour starts whilst the 25th placed qualifier has garnered 19. Every finishing place therefore matters.

The players who made the 72 hole cut but finished outside the Top 25 also earned a membership category on the European Challenge Tour.

____________________________________________

I have specifically followed all of the Great British and Irish (GB&I) professionals, First Stage and Second Stage Qualifying medalists and a few other overseas ‘players of interest’. Here’s how they all finished: –

PLAYERS T25 OR BETTER EARNING A EUROPEAN TOUR CARD
1st  -25 Benjamin POKE (DEN) WINNER
T5   -16 Rasmus HØJGAARD (DEN)
T5   -16 Laurie CANTER (ENG)
T13 -14 Garrick PORTEOUS (ENG) – 2nd Stage Desert Springs
T13 -14 Marcus ARMITAGE (ENG) – 2nd Stage Las Colinas
T17 -13 Bradley DREDGE (WAL)
T17 -13 Jonathan CALDWELL (NIR) – 2nd Stage Bonmont
T17 -13 Dave COUPLAND (ENG) – 2nd Stage Bonmont
T17 -13 Toby TREE (ENG) – 2nd Stage Alenda
T25 -12 Dale WHITNELL (ENG)

PLAYERS FINISHING T70 OR BETTER WHO MADE THE 72 HOLE CUT
T29 -11 Daniel YOUNG (SCO) – 2nd Stage Desert Springs
T29 -11 Wilco NIENABER (RSA) TURNED PRO 7/19 – 1st Stage Frilford Heath / 2nd Stage Las Colinas
T29 -11 Tom GANDY (IoM) –1st Stage Hardelot / 2nd Stage Alenda
T34 -10 Steven TILEY (ENG)
T34 -10 Craig HOWIE (SCO) – 1st Stage Ebreichsdorf / 2nd Stage Las Colinas
T44  -8 Niall KEARNEY (IRE) – 2nd Stage Alenda
T44  -8 David DIXON (ENG) – 2nd Stage Alenda
T44  -8 Gavin MOYNIHAN (IRE)
T51  -7 Nicolai HØJGAARD (DEN)
T51  -7 Matthew BALDWIN (ENG)
T51  -7 Marc WARREN (SCO)
T57  -6 Jordan WRISDALE (ENG) – 2nd Stage Alenda
T57  -6 Ewen FERGUSON (SCO)
T57  -6 Daniel GAVINS (ENG) – 2nd Stage Alenda
T65  -4 Euan WALKER (SCO) TURNED PRO 9/192nd Stage Las Colinas
67th -3 Aron ZEMMER (ITA) – 1st Stage Bogogno / 2nd Stage Bonmont WINNER
T68  -2 Ben STOW (ENG)

PLAYERS WHO MISSED THE 72 HOLE T70 CUT
T78  -3 Ben EVANS (ENG)
T78  -3 Liam JOHNSTON (SCO)
T78  -3 Robin DAWSON (IRE) – 2nd Stage Bonmont
T91  -1 Blake WINDRED (AUS) TURNED PRO 10/19 – 2nd Stage Desert Springs WINNER
T91  -1 Ben HUTCHINSON (ENG) TURNED PRO 9/191st Stage Frilford Heath / 2nd Stage Alenda
T96  Ev Björn HELLGREN (SWE) – 1st Stage Arlandastad WINNER / 2nd Stage Las Colinas
T96  Ev Chris CANNON (ENG) – 2nd Stage Bonmont
T96  Ev Scott GREGORY (ENG) – 2nd Stage Desert Springs
T96  Ev Lauri RUUSKA (FIN) – 1st Stage Fleesensee WINNER / 2nd Stage Bonmont
T106 +1 Ross MCGOWAN (ENG)
T106 +1 Will ENEFER (ENG) – 1st Stage Fleesensee / 2nd Stage Bonmont
T106 +1 Rhys ENOCH (WAL)
T106 +1 Gary KING (ENG) – 2nd Stage Las Colinas
T120 +3 Thomas ROSENMÜLLER (GER) TURNED PRO 10/19 – 1st Stage Ebreichsdorf / 2nd Stage Las Colinas
T120 +3 Bjarki PETURSSON (ISL) TURNED PRO 11/19 – 1st Stage Fleesensee / 2nd Stage Bonmont
T120 +3 Jimmy JONES (CAN) – 2nd Stage Las Colinas WINNER
T131 +5 Jonathan THOMSON (ENG) – 2nd Stage Bonmont
T131 +5 Louis HIRST (ENG) – 2nd Stage Desert Springs
T134 +6 Ben BRISCOE (WAL) – 1st Stage Arlandastad / 2nd Stage Desert Springs
T134 +6 Jarand Ekelund ARNOY (NOR) – 1st Stage Stoke by Nayland / 2nd Stage Alenda WINNER
T138 +7 David MICHELUZZI (AUS) TURNED PRO 10/19 – 2nd Stage Bonmont
T138 +7 Michael HOEY (NIR) – 2nd Stage Las Colinas
T145 +8 Lee SLATTERY (ENG)
151 +15 Matteo MANASSERO (ITA)
152 +16 Steve WEBSTER (ENG)
WD Jamie DONALDSON (WAL) after Rd 2 (+2)
WD Paul DUNNE (IRE) before Rd 1

Click this link to view the European Tour website’s full – FINAL STAGE Q-SCHOOL RESULTS

____________________________________________

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.

img_2246

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.

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.

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.

325 players started Second Stage with 82 progressing (including three Alternates) to Final Stage. 18 players competed as amateurs.

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 Second Stage Preview & Results

ME.

Copyright © 2014-2019, Mark Eley. All rights reserved.

European Tour Q-School – 2019 Second Stage Preview & Results

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.

____________________________________________

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.

____________________________________________

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)

img_2246

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)

img_9 991

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.

____________________________________________

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.

Copyright © 2014-2019, Mark Eley. All rights reserved.

European Tour Q-School – 2018 Final Stage Preview & Results

November 2018

The European Tour’s FINAL STAGE QUALIFYING event at Lumine Golf Club in Tarragona, Spain came to a conclusion on Thursday 15th November 2018.

A total of six rounds were played. The first 72 holes were played on Lumine’s Lakes and Hills Courses, the field switching between the two on a daily basis. The final 36 holes were played solely on the Lakes Course.

156 players from 28 countries started the event. 59 of them were exempt due to past performances, 95 were Second Stage Q-School qualifiers and 2 were Second Stage Alternates (Will ENEFER ENG and David COOKE USA).

European Tour QS

77 players, including 18 from Great Britain and Ireland (GB&I), made the top 70 and ties cut which fell at 280 (-6) after 72 holes. In achieving this these players all secured full Category 15 Challenge Tour membership for 2019 and a lower membership category on the European Tour.

Following the final 36 holes 27 players finished in the all important top 25 to earn full Category 17 2019 European Tour cards. Of these just 5 were from GB&I. Well done to Scott GREGORY (ENG), Daniel GAVINS (ENG), Marc WARREN (SCO), Gavin MOYNIHAN (IRE) and Ben EVANS (ENG).

20 year old Norwegian amateur Kristoffer REITAN was amongst the 8 players who finished tied 20th to secure the final cards. A well deserved switch to the professional ranks can now only be days away for him.

Alejandro CAÑIZARIES (ESP) and Zander LOMBARD (RSA) finished tied 1st with a 404 (-24) final score. Impressive scoring under the most extreme pressure. They both earned €13,750 each. A final 18 hole card play-off means the Spaniard will have the No. 1 Q-School card.

I have been following all of the 52 GB&I players this week as well as a few selected overseas competitors (in green). The list below shows how they all finished, along with their qualification information: –

PLAYERS T25 OR BETTER EARNING A EUROPEAN TOUR CARD
T1    -24     Alejandro CAÑIZARIES (ESP) – Las Colinas 2nd Q
T1    -24     Zander LOMBARD (RSA) – 2018 RTRAK 19th Q
T3    -23     Kurt KITAYAMA (USA) – Hardelot 1st (Winner) / Las Colinas 2nd Q
5th   -22     Romain LANGASQUE (FRA) – 2018 RTRAK 19th Q
T11  -19     Scott GREGORY (ENG) – The Players 1st / Alenda 2nd Q
T13  -18     Deyen LAWSON (AUS) – Desert Springs 2nd (Winner) Q
T13  -18     Daniel GAVINS (ENG) – Frilford 1st / El Encin 2nd Q
19th -17     Marc WARREN (SCO) – 2018 RTD 131st / ET Career Earnings 69th Q
T20  -16     Gavin MOYNIHAN (IRE) – Desert Springs 2nd Q
T20  -16     Kristoffer REITAN (NOR) AM – Stoke By Nayland 1st / Las Colinas 2nd Q
T20  -16     Ben EVANS (ENG) – El Encin 2nd Q

PLAYERS FINISHING T70 OR BETTER WHO MADE THE CUT
T28  -15     Duncan STEWART (SCO) – Las Colinas 2nd
T28  -15     Josh GEARY (AUS) – El Encin 2nd (Winner)
T28  -15     Cormac SHARVIN (NI) – El Encin 2nd
T28  -15     Joe DEAN (ENG) – Alenda 2nd (Winner)
T28  -15     Christian BRAEUNIG (GER) – Las Colinas 2nd (Winner)
T37  -14     David BOOTE (WAL) – Frilford 1st / El Encin 2nd
T37  -14     Chris HANSON (ENG) – 2018 RTD 164th 
T57  -10     Laurie CANTER (ENG) – 2018 RTD 155th
T57  -10     Connor SYME (SCO) – 2018 RTD 127th
T63    -9     Nick MCCARTHY (ENG) – Hardelot 1st / Alenda 2nd
T63    -9     Craig ROSS (SCO) – Fleesensee 1st / Alenda 2nd
T67    -8     Jonathan THOMSON (ENG) – 2018 RTD 148th
T67    -8     Ryan EVANS (ENG) – 2018 RTD 149th
71st   -7     Paul MADDY (ENG) – Las Colinas 2nd
T73    -3     Jamie ABBOTT (ENG) – Stoke By Nayland 1st (Winner) / Desert Springs 2nd
T73    -3     Robin DAWSON (IRE) TURNED PRO 9/18 – El Encin 2nd

 __________________________________________________

PLAYERS WHO MISSED THE CUT (after 72 holes)
T78    -5     Richard BLAND (ENG) – 2018 RTD 165th
T78    -5     Dale WHITNELL (ENG) – Frilford 1st / Las Colinas 2nd
T78    -5     Gary KING (ENG) – Frilford 1st / Las Colinas 2nd
T78    -5     Rhys ENOCH (WAL) – Las Colinas 2nd
T78    -5     Sebastian G. RODRIGUEZ (ESP) – Bom Sucesso 1st (Winner) / Alenda 2nd
T84    -4     Allen JOHN (GER) AM – Hardelot 1st / Alenda 2nd
T84    -4     James RUTH (ENG) – The Players 1st / Desert Springs 2nd
T95    -3     Simon DYSON (ENG) – ET Career Earnings 45th
T95    -3     Will ENEFER (ENG) – Fleesensee 1st / Las Colinas 2nd (1st Alternate)
T95    -3     Jack SENIOR (ENG) – 2018 RTRAK 28th
T95    -3     James HEATH (ENG) – ET Tournament Winner
T95    -3     Callum SHINKWIN (ENG) – 2018 RTD 120th
T100  -2     Oliver WILSON (ENG) – 2018 RTRAK 17th
T100  -2     Ben HUTCHINSON (ENG) AM – Frilford 1st / Las Colinas 2nd
T108  Ev    Toby TREE (ENG) – El Encin 2nd
T108  Ev    Ross MCGOWAN (ENG) – 2018 RTRAK 44th
T108  Ev    Oliver FARR (ENG) – 2018 RTD 146th
T108  Ev    Steve WEBSTER (ENG) – ET Career Earnings 71st
T108  Ev    Matt FORD (ENG) – Desert Springs 2nd
T108  Ev    Andrew WILSON (ENG) TURNED PRO 08/11/18 – Frilford 1st / El Encin 2nd
T108  Ev    James ROSS (SCO) – Bom Sucesso 1st / El Encin 2nd
T117  +1    Chris LLOYD (ENG) – Desert Springs 2nd
T117  +1    Toby HUNT (WAL) – Bom Sucesso 1st / Desert Springs 2nd
T117  +1    Matteo MANASSERO (ITA) – 2018 RTD 123rd
T123  +2    John PARRY (ENG) – Desert Springs 2nd
T123  +2    Calum HILL (SCO) – 2018 RTRAK 35th
T123  +2    Matthew NIXON (ENG) – 2018 RTD 124th
T123  +2    Richard FINCH (ENG) – Desert Springs 2nd
T132  +3    Mark LASKEY (WAL) – Frilford 1st / Desert Springs 2nd
T135  +4    Daniel YOUNG (SCO) – Bom Sucesso 1st / Desert Springs 2nd
T135  +4    Chris ROBB (SCO) – Las Colinas 2nd
T135  +4    Jack MCDONALD (SCO) – Hardelot 1st / Alenda 2nd
T138  +5    Andrew WILLEY (ENG) – The Players 1st / Desert Springs 2nd
T138  +5    Ewen FERGUSON (SCO) – 2018 RTRAK 36th
T141  +6    Frederik DREIER (DEN) – Fleesensee 1st (Winner) / Alenda 2nd

RTD  +11 (54h)   Scott HENRY (SCO) – Desert Springs 2nd
DQ       -7 (36h)   Tom MURRAY (ENG) – 2018 RTRAK 16th

Click this link to view the European Tour website’s Final Stage Q-School – Final Results

Q-SCHOOL BACKGROUND

A total of six rounds or 108 holes will be played.

To start with each player will play 72 holes; two rounds each on Lumine’s Lakes (6,909 yards, par 71) and Hills (6,975 yards, par 72) Courses.

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Lumine Beach & Golf Club – 18th hole, Hills Course (Photo: http://www.lumine.com)

There will then be a cut with only the top 70 players and ties playing the two final rounds, both on the tougher Lakes Course.

Players who finish in the top 25 and tied for 25th place will secure a Category 17 2019 European Tour card and membership of the Challenge Tour.

Those players who make the cut will be handed a lower membership of both the European Tour and Challenge Tour.

Those who miss the cut will receive an even lower Category membership of the Challenge Tour.

The final Q-School finishing positions are important when it comes to determining each player’s standing in each Category and as such their actual playing opportunities next season.

The 2018 Final Q-School will have a total prize fund of c.€150,000. The winner will receive c.€18,000 with those finishing in the Top 25 (and ties) reducing amounts down to c.€1,850.

THE 2018 STORY SO FAR

First Stage

First Stage consisted of eight 72 hole stroke play qualifying events, split into four Sections, A, B, C and D, played between 11th September and 12th October.

804 players contested First Stage Qualifying this year with 171 progressing to Second Stage.

These numbers included 62 amateurs, 13 of which were successful. Of these Spain’s Angel Hidalgo and Switzerland’s Perry Cohen chose to turn pro ahead of Second Stage.

For a recap on the First Stage competitions please read my earlier article – European Tour Q-School – 2018 First Stage Preview & Results

Second Stage

The Second Qualifying Stage consisted of four separate 72-hole events played at Desert Springs R&GC, Las Colinas G&CC, El Encin GH and Alenda Golf, all in Spain, on 2nd – 5th November 2018.

291 players started Second Stage Qualifying with 98 of these coming from Great Britain and Ireland (GB&I). 120 players were exempted straight into Second Stage based on their past performances.

93 qualifying places were made available for Second Stage with sudden death play-offs required at three of the four sites to separate tied players.

Four amateurs, Ben HUTCHINSON (ENG), Allen JOHN (GER), Kristoffer REITAN (NOR) and Andrew WILSON (ENG) were amongst the qualifiers. Andrew WILSON chose to turn Pro ahead of Final Stage.

For a recap on the Second Stage competitions please read my earlier article – European Tour Q-School – 2018 Second Stage Preview & Results

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2017 EUROPEAN TOUR FINAL STAGE QUALIFYING

Sam HORSFIELD (ENG) won the Final Stage of the 2017 European Tour Qualifying School, played for the first time at Lumine Golf Club.

His final -27 score, with all six rounds in the 60’s and a best of the day final round of 63 (-8), saw him win the 108 hole event by an impressive 8 shots.

Following in the footsteps of Nathan KIMSEY (ENG) in 2016 he became the second player in a row and the third in total to come through all three stages of Q-School and win.

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Sam Horsfield – Winner of the European Tour’s 2017 Q-School (Photo: @hr59sam)

Click here to view the European Tour’s – 2017 Final Stage Results

Looking back 2018 has proved to be a relatively good year for Q-School graduates. Andreas PAVANN (ITA), Sam HORSFIELD (ENG), Mattias SCHWAB (AUS), Jacques KRUYSWIJK (RSA), Gonzalo FERNANDEZ-CASTAÑO (ESP) and Christian BEZUIDENHOUT (RSA) and Justin WATERS (RSA) all retained their cards this season.

ME.

Copyright © 2018, Mark Eley. All rights reserved.

European Tour Q-School – 2018 Second Stage Preview & Results

October / November 2018

I continue to follow the progress of all of the amateurs and some selected Great British and Irish (GB&I) professionals in the 2018 European Tour Q-School series.

This article focuses on SECOND STAGE QUALIFYING which ended on Monday 5th November at Desert Springs GC, Las Colinas G&CC, El Encin GH and Alenda Golf, all in Spain.

Each competition was played concurrently over 72 holes over four days with no cut.

291 players started these events with 98 (34%) of these hailing from Great Britain and Ireland (GB&I).

804 players contested First Stage Qualifying this year with 171 (21.3%) progressing to Second Stage. These numbers included 62 amateurs, 13 of which were successful. Of these Spain’s Angel Hidalgo and Switzerland’s Perry Cohen chose to turn pro ahead of Second Stage.

These 171 qualifiers were joined by those players who were exempt from First Stage due to their performances on the 2018 European Tour, Challenge Tour and other feeder / satellite tours.

Exemptions were also given to the leading five Q-School entrants as at 29th August 2018, up to a limit of 15th place, in the Men’s World Amateur Golf Ranking. As a result of this Matthew JORDAN (ENG), Robin DAWSON (IRE) and Todd CLEMENTS (ENG) – all of whom have recently turned Pro – started their Q-School journeys at Second Stage this year.

__________________________________________________

95 qualifying places were made available for Second Stage with sudden death play-offs required at three of the four sites to separate tied players for the final space(s) and to determine the alternates.

Well done to Kristoffer REITAN (NOR), Ben HUTCHINSON (ENG), Andrew WILSON (ENG) and Allen JOHN (GER), the four amateurs who progressed from Second Stage.

These 95 qualifiers will be joined by 61 exempt players at Lumine GC for next week’s Final Stage event. The total field of 156 will play 108 holes with the target for all of the players being a Top 25 finish and a European Tour card.

__________________________________________________

Here are the links to the European Tour’s Q-School results webpages as well my own selected player summaries (name / country / scores / result / 1st stage qualification where applicable) : –

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

Click here for the full Desert Springs – Results

Entries – 73 players with 28 from GB&I (38%) started with 24 qualifying.

QUALIFIED
Deyen LAWSON (AUS) -21 WINNER
Gavin MOYNIHAN (IRE) -15 4th
Jamie ABBOTT (ENG) -9 T14 (Stoke By Nayland 1st – Winner)
Daniel YOUNG (SCO) -9 T14 (Bom Sucesso 1st)

DID NOT QUALIFY
Matthew JORDAN (ENG) TURNED PRO 9/18 -8 T19 / Lost in a 6 from 8 play-off
Jonathan CALDWELL (N.I.) -8 T19 / Lost in a 6 from 8 play-off
Todd CLEMENTS (ENG) TURNED PRO 8/18 -4 T37
Victor VEYRET (FRA) AM -2 T42 (Hardelot 1st)
Leandro MARELLI (ARG) -2 T42 (Bogogno 1st – Winner)
Jack FLOYDD (ENG) AM Ev T51 (Frilford 1st)
Gary HURLEY (IRE) Ev T51 (Frilford 1st – Winner)
Craig HOWIE (SCO) +7 63rd
[Luke DONNELLY (IRE) – WD before play started on Day 1 (The Players 1st)]

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

Click here for the full Las Colinas – Results

Entries – 71 players with 18 from GB&I (25%) started with 23 + 1 qualifying.

QUALIFIED
Christian BRAEUNIG (GER) -15 WINNER (on countback)
Kristoffer REITAN (NOR) AM -12 T8 (Stoke By Nayland 1st)
Kurt KITAYAMA (USA) -9 T13 (Hardelot 1st – Winner)
Ben HUTCHINSON (ENG) AM -7 T19 (Frilford 1st)

Will ENEFER (ENG) -6 T24 (Fleesensee 1st) 1st Alternate

DID NOT QUALIFY
Gian-Marco PETROZZI (ENG) TURNED PRO 9/18 -4 T32 (The Players 1st)
Angel HIDALGO (ESP) TURNED PRO 10/18 -3 T35 (Bogogno 1st)
Cameron RAYMOND (IRE) +1 T47 (Bogogno 1st)
Vince VAN VEEN (NED) TURNED PRO 9/18 +2 T50 (Bogogno 1st)
Dan HEBENSTREIT (AUT) AM +3 T53 (Ebreichsdorf 1st)
Joshua WHITE (ENG) +4 T57 (Frilford 1st)
Maximilian LECHNER (AUT) AM +10 66th (Ebreichsdorf 1st)
Bradley MOORE (ENG) +15 67th (Stoke By Nayland 1st)
Bryden MACPHERSON (AUS) WD After Rd 3 on +11 (Ebreichsdorf 1st)

img_9991

3. EL ENCIN GOLF HOTEL, Madrid – 7,539 yards, Par 72

Click here for the full El Encin – Results

Entries – 74 players with 24 from GB&I (32%) started with 24 qualifying.

QUALIFIED
Josh GEARY (AUS) -17 WINNER
Toby TREE (ENG) -13 T6
Cormac SHARVIN (NI) -13 T6
Robin DAWSON (IRE) TURNED PRO 9/18 -13 T6
David BOOTE (WAL) -12 T14 (Frilford 1st)
Andrew WILSON (ENG) AM -11 T18 (Frilford 1st)

DID NOT QUALIFY
Joshua MCMAHON (ENG) AM -7 T31 (Stoke By Nayland 1st)
Lorenzo SCALISE (ITA) TURNED PRO 9/18 -5 T43 (Bogogno 1st)
Haydn MCCULLEN (ENG) -6 T35 (The Players 1st – Winner)
Casey WITTENBERG (USA) WD After Rd 3 on +5 (Ebreichsdorf 1st – Winner)

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

Click here for the full Alenda – Results

Entries – 73 players with 28 from GB&I (38%) started with 24 qualifying.

QUALIFIED
Joe DEAN (ENG) -15 WINNER
Jack MCDONALD (SCO) -12 T3 (Hardelot 1st)
Allen JOHN (GER) AM -12 T3 (Hardelot 1st)
Sebastian GARCIA RODRIGUEZ (ESP) -10 T8 (Bom Sucesso 1st – Winner)
Scott GREGORY (ENG) -10 T8 (The Players 1st)
Craig ROSS (SCO) -9 T12 (Fleesensee 1st)
Frederik DREIER (DEN) -6 T21 / Won in a 4 from 6 play-off (Fleesensee 1st – Winner)

DID NOT QUALIFY
Jack DAVIDSON (WAL) -6 T21 / Lost in a 4 from 6 play-off (Stoke By Nayland 1st)
Bradley NEIL (SCO) -5 T27
Ross CAMERON (SCO) -3 T33 (Ebreichsdorf 1st)
Marco PENGE (ENG) -3 T33 (The Players 1st)
Alfie PLANT (ENG) -3 T33 (Bogogno 1st)
Hunter STEWART (USA) -2 T39 (Bogogno 1st)
Ashton TURNER (ENG) -1 T46 (Frilford 1st)
Mike TOOROP (NED) AM Ev T50 (Hardelot 1st)
Richard MANSELL (ENG) +1 T54 (The Players 1st)
Nick POPPLETON (ENG) AM +2 T58 (Frilford 1st)
Conor O’ROURKE (IRE) +4 65th (Bom Sucesso 1st)
Perry COHEN (SUI) TURNED PRO 11/18 +11 70th (Ebreichsdorf 1st)

European Tour QS

THE 2018 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 test has grown into potentially a 252 hole marathon.

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

This year the European Tour Q-School entrance fee has been increased to €2,000 (2017: €1,800).

First Stage

First Stage consists of eight 72 hole stroke play qualifying events split into four Sections, A, B, C and D.

Around 20% of each field, normally 15-30 players, progress from each event.

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 eight First Stage competitions played between 11th September and 12th October please read my earlier article – European Tour Q-School – 2018 First Stage Preview & Results

Second Stage

The Second Qualifying Stage consists of four separate 72-hole events that will be played at Desert Springs R&GC, Las Colinas G&CC, El Encin GH and Alenda Golf, all in Spain, concurrently on 2nd-5th November 2018.

El Encin GH on the outskirts of Madrid was announced as a replacement venue for Panoramica G&SR on 9th October. El Encin is a former host of the Madrid Masters and the Challenge Tour’s Challenge de Madrid. I assume Panoramica failed the final European Tour inspection given the late change.

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 host Final Stage both the this year and in 2019. This competition will be played on 10th-15th November 2018.

The leading 25 players (and ties) from the 156 that will contest Final Stage will be eligible for membership of the European Tour and membership of the Challenge Tour for the 2018/19 season. The leading 70 players (and ties) who make the 72-hole cut will obtain a lower category memberships of the European Tour and the Challenge Tour. Those who miss the cut receive an even lower category membership of the Challenge Tour.

ME.

Copyright © 2018, Mark Eley. All rights reserved.

European Tour Q-School – 2017 Final Stage Results

16th November 2017

Sam HORSFIELD (21) won the 2017 Final Stage of the European Tour Qualifying School at Lumine Golf & Beach Club in Tarragona, Spain.

The Florida-based Englishman was simply too good for Lumine’s Hills and Lakes courses and for that matter the rest of the field.

His final -27 score, with all six rounds in the 60’s and a best of the day final round of 63 (-8), saw him win the 108 hole event by an impressive 8 shots.

Following in the footsteps of Nathan KIMSEY last year he becomes the second player in a row and the third in total to come through all three stages of Q-School and win.

Horsfield left the University of Florida in May 2017 after his sophomore year had concluded. He had enjoyed a superb freshman year in US College golf in 2015/16 but had been inconsistent in this his second year, distracted by trialling equipment ahead of his move into the paid ranks.

A former amateur world number 1 and arguably Britain’s strongest golfing prospect in the last few years this victory should come as no surprise to anyone.

After a few starts on the PGA Tour Sam chose to try his hand in Europe this summer and received invitations to three late season tournaments. He made the cut at both the Made in Denmark (T49 -3) and Portugal Masters (T59 -4) but missed out at the KLM Open (T99 +3). In summary a steady if unspectacular start to his pro career.

His 2017 European Tour year to date earnings of €12,800 have now been more than doubled by the Final Q-School winner’s cheque of €16,000.

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Sam Horsfield – Winner of the European Tour’s 2017 Q-School (Photo: @hr59sam)

Connor SYME (22) finished tied 9th on -17, continuing his seamless transition over the last 2 months from amateur golf and the 2017 Walker Cup match to the professional game.

Jonathan THOMSON (21) finished tied 18th on -14 capping a great season for the Yorkshireman. He finished 9th on the PGA EuroPro Tour Order of Merit and also showed he belonged on the European Tour with strong performances at both the D+D REAL Czech Masters (T54) and Portugal Masters (T25).

It was also good to see Gavin MOYNIHAN (23) progress. The Irishman, who played in both the 2013 and 2015 Walker Cups finished tied 25th on -13. After finishing 19th on the Challenge Tour’s 2017 Order of Merit he has clearly taken another important step forward this week.

English pair James HEATH and Ben EVANS should also be congratulated too, having fought their way into the Top 25 and ties on the final day. They both shot 66 (-5) when it mattered most in Round 6.

Horsfield, and the other players who finished in the top 25 and tied for 25th place, can now look forward to 2018 with confidence and the foundation of Category 17 and 5 cards for the European Tour and Challenge Tour respectively.

156 golfers started out in the Final Stage marathon with 49 from Great Britain and Ireland (GB&I) – 31.4% of the field.

After a 72 holes cut, following two rounds on each of Lumine’s courses, 74 players remained representing those that had finished 70th and tied.

27 GB&I players made the cut with 12 going on to achieve 2018 European Tour Category 17 playing privileges. In total 33 players finished in the Top 25 and tied places.

Here is a summary of the GB&I results showing each player’s Q-School entry point, finishing place and score as well as their 2018 European Tour (ET) and Challenge Tour (CT) categories: –

Results

Click here to view the European Tour’s – Lumine Final Stage Results

Top 25 – ET cat. 17 / CT cat. 5

Sam HORSFIELD (ENG) – First Stage  1st (-27)
Charlie FORD (ENG) – Final Stage  T2 (-19)
Mark FOSTER (ENG) – Second Stage  T9 (-17)
Connor SYME (SCO) – Second Stage  T9 (-17)
Laurie CANTER (ENG) – Second Stage  T12 (-16)
Ross MCGOWAN (ENG) – Final Stage  T15 (-15)
James HEATH (ENG) – Final Stage  T18 (-14)
Jonathan THOMSON (ENG) – First Stage  T18 (-14)
Matthew BALDWIN (ENG) – Second Stage  T18 (-14)
Ben EVANS (ENG) – Final Stage  T25 (-13)
Gavin MOYNIHAN (IRE) – Final Stage  T25 (-13)
Matthew NIXON (ENG) – Final Stage  T25 (-13)

72 Hole Cut Made (Top 70 and Ties) – ET cat. 22 / CT cat. 9

Marcus ARMITAGE (ENG) – Second Stage  T34 (-12)
Tom MURRAY (ENG) – Final Stage  T37 (-11)
Chris LLOYD (ENG) – Second Stage  T37 (-11)
Robert MACINTYRE (SCO) – Second Stage  T37 (-11)
David LAW (SCO) – Second Stage  T42 (-10)
Tom LEWIS (ENG) – Final Stage  T42 (-10)
Paul HOWARD (ENG) – Final Stage  T42 (-10)
Nathan KIMSEY (ENG) – Final Stage  T50 (-9)
Scott HENRY (SCO) – Second Stage  T54 (-8)
Steve WEBSTER (ENG) – Final Stage  T54 (-8)
Stuart MANLEY (WAL) – Second Stage  T58 (-7)
Steven TILEY (ENG) – Second Stage  T58 (-7)
Ruaidhri MCGEE (IRE) – Second Stage  T62 (-6)
Simon KHAN (ENG) – Final Stage  T68 (-2)
Paul MADDY (ENG) – Second Stage  T68 (-2)

Amateurs
Adri ARNAUS (ESP) – First Stage  T65 (-5)  – Adri turned pro after the 4th round
Kim KOIVU (FIN) – First Stage  T68 (-2)

Missed Cut – CT cat. 15 (72 holes played)

Ewen FERGUSON (SCO) – Second Stage  T75 (-1)
Ross KELLETT (SCO) – Second Stage  T75 (-1)
Jamie RUTHERFORD (ENG) – Second Stage  T82 (Ev)
Matt FORD (ENG) – Final Stage  T82 (Ev)
Grant FORREST (SCO) – Final Stage  T82 (Ev)
Oliver WILSON (ENG) – Final Stage  T82 (Ev)
Joe DEAN (ENG) – First Stage  T94 (+1)
Toby TREE (ENG) – Second Stage  T94 (+1)
Cormac SHARVIN (N.I.) – Second Stage  T94 (+1)
John PARRY (ENG) – Second Stage  T103 (+2)
Scott GREGORY (ENG) – Second Stage  T103 (+2)
Max ORRIN (ENG) – Second Stage  T112 (+3)
Simon DYSON (ENG) – Final Stage  T112 (+3)
Dan BROWN (ENG) – First Stage  T112 (+3)
Dermot MCELROY (N.I.) – First Stage  T121 (+5)
Chris DOAK (SCO) – Second Stage  T121 (+5)
Richard MCEVOY (ENG) – Final Stage  T121 (+5)
Sam HUTSBY (ENG) – Second Stage  T132 (+7)
Rhys ENOCH (WAL) – Second Stage  T136 (+8)
Robert DINWIDDIE (ENG) – Second Stage  T144 (+11)
Duncan STEWART (SCO) – Final Stage  T147 (+13)
Garrick PORTEOUS (ENG) – Final Stage  WD (+11, after 3 rounds)

Amateurs
Oliver GILLBERG (SWE) – First Stage  T94 (+1)

European Tour QS

FINAL STAGE Q-SCHOOL REWARDS

At the conclusion of play the leading 25 players (and ties) were eligible for Category 17 membership of the European Tour and Category 5 membership of the Challenge Tour for the 2018 season.

With regard to Category 17 the European Tour will be adopting a new structure in 2018. The Top 10 Q-School finishers will be ranked first, followed by those players who finished 101st-110th in the 2017 Race To Dubai and finally the 11th-25th Q-School leading finishers.

The leading 70 players (and ties) who made the 72-hole cut will be handed Category 22 membership of the European Tour and Category 9 membership of the Challenge Tour.

Those who missed the cut will receive Category 15 membership of the Challenge Tour.

The final Q-School finishing positions are important when it comes to determining each player’s standing in each Category and as such their actual playing opportunities next season.

The 2017 Final Q-School has a total prize fund of €150,000. The winner receives €16,000 with those finishing in the Top 25 (and ties) reducing amounts down to €1,860.

FINAL STAGE Q-SCHOOL BACKGROUND

The competition was played over 108 holes on Lumine’s Lakes (6,909 yards, par 71) and Hills (6,975 yards, par 72) Courses.

Whilst Lumine’s Lakes Course has hosted one of the Second Stage events for some time this is the first time the Club has been used for Final Stage Qualifying. The PGA Catalunya Resort in Girona has hosted the Finals for the last 9 years.

Lumine Beach & Golf Club – 18th hole, Hills Course (Photo: http://www.lumine.com)

70 players were exempted into the Q-School process at the Final Stage. Amongst this number are many experienced pros and previous European Tour winners. If reaching this Stage isn’t hard enough make no mistake the bar is once again raised at the Finals.

Eight First Stage and four Second Stage events were completed in recent months in the 2017 Q-School series. 176 players progressed from the former to Second Stage whilst 86 advanced from the latter to the Finals.

For a recap on these 2017 Q-School competitions please read my earlier articles: –

European Tour Q-School – 2017 First Stage Preview & Results

European Tour Q-School – 2017 Second Stage Preview & Results

Last year England’s Nathan KIMSEY (-13) won the Final Stage of the European Tour’s Qualifying School series at the PGA Catalunya Resort.

Nathan was just the second player to come right through from First Stage to win Q-School outright.

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Nathan Kimsey – Winner of the European Tour’s 2016 Q-School (Photo: @ETQSchool)

Sadly Nathan wasn’t able to retain his European Tour card during the 2017 season and as you can see above finished tied 50th this week.

In fact just three players retained their playing status from the 30 2016 Q-School graduates. These were Eddie PEPPERELL (ENG), Edoardo MOLINARI (ITA) – who finished 44th and 66th on the Race To Dubai regular season standings – and Ashley CHESTERS (ENG), who was 110th but 8th on the Access List.

The introduction of the Rolex Series and the ever rising standard of play means that making the most of a good finish at Q-School is unquestionably getting harder each year.

Well done to the 33 2017 Q-School graduates. Enjoy your achievements this week and best wishes for next season.

ME.

Copyright © 2017, Mark Eley. All rights reserved.