Nathan Kimsey sealed an impressive victory at 13 under par total for the six days at the Final Stage of Qualifying School having come through First and Second Stage (a marathon 252 holes of Q-School) to triumph in Girona as late drama meant 30 players earned Race to Dubai spots for next season.
Behind him, late bogeys for Niclas Johansson, Richard McEvoy and Jamie Rutherford brought the qualifying mark down to five under par, meaning Jaco Ahlers, Gary King and Espen Kofstad all also earned European Tour promotions with the top 25 and ties winning cards.
Other notable names graduating included Edoardo Molinari, in a tie for second place on 12 under par, and 25yo Eddie Pepperell -10 retained his European Tour status having finished 113th in the RtoD. “Overall I am just really relieved and I am pleased. It is probably the most stressful day I have had on a golf course watching Tom (Lewis) and Richie (McEvoy), who had a bad one but managed to get in, and it is something I do not want to do again.
Earlier in the day, Ricardo Gonzalez – in the first game out – had shot an incredible 64 to set the clubhouse target on 12 under par and become, at 47 years and 24 days, the oldest ever Q-School graduate.
Korean’s Y. E. Yang, the first Major winner ever to compete at Q-School, also finished inside the top 25 at eight under par.
See Tom Lewis regained his TOUR card - Silver Medallist at the 2011 OPEN Championship - where he famously shot 65 to share the lead (and shared the tee with Tom Watson) in the first round - was lowest single-round score by an amateur in OPEN history. The 25yo had won the 2009 British Boys title also at Royal St. George's. 41yo Mark Foster is also back in the big time.
See Tom Lewis regained his TOUR card - Silver Medallist at the 2011 OPEN Championship - where he famously shot 65 to share the lead (and shared the tee with Tom Watson) in the first round - was lowest single-round score by an amateur in OPEN history.
Champions TOUR Q-School qualifying is also taking place in the USofA
Includes names like Stephen Dodd, Thaworn Wiratchant, McGinley in Florida while Van De Veld ranks 4th in California and Barry Lane lies 2nd in Montgomery, Texas.
Champions TOUR Q-School qualifying is also taking place in the USofA Includes names like Stephen Dodd, Thaworn Wiratchant, McGinley in Florida while Van De Veld ranks 4th in California and Barry Lane lies 2nd in Montgomery, Texas.
Nathan Kimsey @NathanKimsey "Excited to get started in my first @EuropeanTour event here @LeopardCreekCC! Off at 7:10am tomorrow to start my 2017 season! #dunhillchamps"
Signs for a 69 on his European Tour debut
Nathan Kimsey @NathanKimsey "Excited to get started in my first @EuropeanTour event here @LeopardCreekCC! Off at 7:10am tomorrow to start my 2017 season! #dunhillchamps"Signs for a 69 on his European Tour debut
Final Qualifying Stage – from Lumine Golf Club in Tarragona, Spain - 11th to 16th Nov 2017
THREE of the SIX rounds completed - Cut to 70 & ties after 4th Rd - On Thursday the Top 25 & ties earn their EUROPEAN TOUR CARD.
Emerging talents..... 21 year old Sam Horsfield, who qualified for the US Open in 2015 and 2016 as an amateur & joined the paid ranks in May, sits alongside Ben Evans at 12 under par in second place at the competition’s halfway stage, one shot behind leader 28 year old Laurie Canter. Scotland’s Connor Syme having represented GB&I in the Walker Cup was delighted to have signed for his best score as a professional, tying the lowest round of the tournament so far with a fine 63. Ireland's Gavin Moynihan lies T13 at 5 under par.
Final Qualifying Stage – from Lumine Golf Club in Tarragona, Spain - 11th to 16th Nov 2017THREE of the SIX rounds completed - Cut to 70 & ties after 4th Rd - On Thursday the Top 25 & ties earn their EUROPEAN TOUR CARD.Emerging talents..... 21 year
Following the conclusion of Qualifying School earlier this month.....
A total of 1026 players, the largest ever in Q School history, took part across the three stages with a total of 33 players (25 and ties) earning their full European Tour cards for the 2017 season. Of the 33 qualifiers there will be 13 rookies in the 2018 Race to Dubai, (11 were already fully exempt European Tour members in the 2017) and from 14 different countries: England (ten), Sweden (four), South Africa (three - Jacques Kruyswijk, Justin Walters & Christiaan Bezuidenhout), two each from Chile, Germany, Spain, Denmark and Italy and one each from New Zealand, Scotland, France, Austria, Thailand and Moynihan (in 31st place) from Ireland.
European Tour winner Anders Hansen made Qualifying School history by becoming the oldest player to ever graduate at 47 years and 61 days old.
Five players who came through all three Stages to gain a card this season. They were: Sam Horsfield (the winner, youngest graduate and with an impressive eight-shot victory), Nico Geyger (17th), Henric Sturehed (22nd), Jonathan Thomson (23rd) and Marcel Schneider (27th).
Following the conclusion of Qualifying School earlier this month..... A total of 1026 players, the largest ever in Q School history, took part across the three stages with a total of 33 players (25 and ties) earning their full European Tour cards fo