Just 12 of 34 Irish survive PQ1

October 5, 2012 Brian Keogh

Michael McGeady agonisingly failed to qualify by a single shot at Stage One of the European Tour Qualifying School.Derry’s Ruaidhri McGree and Ballymena’s Chris Devlin lived to fight another day but there was no luck for the rest of the Irish at the European Tour Qualifying School Stage One Section D qualifiers in England and Portugal.

Spain-based McGee closed with a brilliant 67 to take fifth place on five under par, seven shots behind runaway winner Liam Bond at Frilford Heath where Florida-based Devlin share seventh on three under after a 75.

“Amazing what a sharp short game and a top class caddy can achieve,” Devlin tweeted. “Hit it X-rated this week, but got the job done.”

With the top 29 and ties qualifying for Stage Two in Spain next month, no fewer than 38 went through at the Oxfordshire venue with 10 players sharing 29th spot on five over par.

Ballybunion’s John Daniel Guiney missed out by four shots after a final round 77 while Mike Kelly, Headfort amateur Brian Casey and the Island’s David Rawluk missed the 54-hole cut.

But it was an even more disappointing week for the Irish in action at Ribagolfe in Portugal as all six failed to finish among the top 29 and ties.

Thirty players eventually progressed on three over or better with American Chan Kim topping the qualifiers by a stroke on six under.

Derry’s Mick McGeady missed out by a single shot on four over after a closing 73 featuring five birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey six at the opening hole.

Newlands amateur Andrew Hogan (76), Glen Robinson (75) and Richard Kilpatrick (75) all missed by five shots on eight over with Castle’s Dara Lernihan well back on 14 over after a closing 77.

Of the 34 Irish golfers who entered Stage One, just 12 have made it to next month’s Stage Two qualifiers for a success rate of 35%.

The Second Stage takes place across four venues in Spain – Campo de Golf El Saler, Las Colinas Golf & Country Club, El Valle Golf Resort and Lumine Golf & Beach Club – from November 7-10.

Approximately 310 players will line up at those four venues with about 80 progressing through to the Final Stage at PGA Catalunya Resort from November 24-29 where only the top 25 and ties will earn tour cards.