Gary Murphy back to Q-School, McElroy joins him
Gary Murphy in the 2011 Portugal Masters. Picture Fran Caffrey www.golffile.ieFormer tour player Gary Murphy has come out of retirement for next month’s European Tour Qualifying School First Stage.
The Kilkenny man, who lost his card and then retired from the circuit at the end of 2011 to concentrate on a career in the media, will be in action in the first stage at the Roxburghe Hotel in Scotland from September 10 - 13.
While the entries for the first stage closed on Wednesday, just 29 Irish entries have been processed so far, compared to 39 last year.
Noel Fox and Cian Curley will not be taking part this year but there will be appearance for the likes of South of Ireland champion Simon Ward, who made his professional debut in the Northern Ireland Challenge at Galgorm Castle this week, Walker Cup player Kevin Phelan (who also plans to turn pro for Q-School), and amateurs Reeve Whitson, Dermot McElroy, Brian Casey, Stephen Healy, Matt McAlpin and Andrew Hogan.
Glasson’s Colm Moriarty, who did not go to Q-School last year and took a nine-month sabbatical to rediscover his love of the game, will be back for the 12th time to “chase the dream” of a full European Tour card.
No entries have yet been posted for satellite tour regulars such as Mick McGeady, who opened with a stunning six under 65 at Galgorm Castle, or Ballyliffin’s Brendan McCarroll, to name but two. They are expected to be added to the entry list in the coming days.
Irish entries for Stage One of the European Tour Qualifying School 2013 (as of Aug 29)
- Brian CASEY (AM) Headfort GC
- Thomas CONRAN
- Paul CUTLER Portstewart GC
- Alan DUNBAR Team Ireland
- Shane FRANKLIN
- Nicholas GRANT Knock GC
- Stephen GRANT The Heritage, Ireland
- John-Daniel GUINEY Ballybunion GC
- Stephen HEALY (AM) Claremorris Golf Club
- Andrew HOGAN (AM) Newlands GC
- David P JONES Bushfoot GC
- Niall KEARNEY Royal Dublin/ Team Ireland
- Mike KELLY
- Richard KILPATRICK Banbridge GC
- Matt MCALPIN (AM) Royal Portrush
- Dermot MCELROY (AM) Ballymena GC
- Ruaidhri MCGEE Rosapenna
- Cian MCNAMARA Monkstown GC
- Colm MORIARTY Glasson Golf Hotel & CC
- Damian MOONEY Ballyliffin GC
- Gary MURPHY
- Mark MURPHY Waterville GC
- Kevin PHELAN (AM) Waterford Castle
- David RAWLUK The Island GC
- Tim RICE Limerick GC
- Mark STAUNTON Ballinasloe GC
- Niall TURNER Team Ireland
- Simon WARD (AM) Belvoir Park
- Reeve WHITSON (AM) Mourne GC
Sep 10 - 13
First Qualifying Stage Section A - Ebreichsdorf
Golfclub Schloss Ebreichsdorf, Ebreichsdorf, Austria
No Irish
Sep 10 - 13
First Qualifying Stage Section A - The Roxburghe
The Roxburghe Hotel & Golf Course, Kelso, Scotland
Andrew HOGAN (AM) Newlands GC
Gary MURPHY
Mark MURPHY Waterville GC
Damian MOONEY Ballyliffin GC
David RAWLUK The Island GC
Mark STAUNTON Ballinasloe GC
Sep 17 - 20
First Qualifying Stage Section B - Wychwood Park
Wychwood Park, Crewe, England
Paul CUTLER Portstewart GC
Alan DUNBAR Team Ireland
Stephen HEALY (AM) Claremorris Golf Club
David P JONES Bushfoot GC
Matt MCALPIN (AM) Royal Portrush
Dermot MCELROY (AM) Ballymena GC
Ruaidhri MCGEE Rosapenna
Colm MORIARTY Glasson Golf Hotel & CC
Sep 17 - 20
First Qualifying Stage Section B - Fleesensee
Fleesensee Golf & Country Club, Fleesensee, Göhren-Lebbin, Germany
Niall KEARNEY Royal Dublin/ Team Ireland
Cian MCNAMARA Monkstown GC
Simon WARD (AM) Belvoir Park
Sep 24 - 27
First Qualifying Stage Section C - Ribagolfe
Ribagolfe, Lisbon, Portugal
NICHOLAS GRANT Knock GC
Stephen GRANT The Heritage, Ireland
Kevin PHELAN (AM) Waterford Castle
Reeve WHITSON (AM) Mourne GC
Sep 24 - 27
First Qualifying Stage Section C - Bogogno, Italy
Circolo Golf Bogogno, Bogogno, Italy
No Irish
Oct 1 - 4
First Qualifying Stage Section D - Frilford Heath
Frilford Heath, Abingdon,England
Brian CASEY (AM) Headfort GC
Thomas CONRAN
Shane FRANKLIN
John-Daniel GUINEY Ballybunion GC
Mike KELLY
Oct 1 - 4
First Qualifying Stage Section D - Golf d’Hardelot
Golf d’Hardelot, Hardelot, France
Richard KILPATRICK Banbridge GC
Tim RICE Limerick GC
Niall TURNER Team Ireland