Gary Murphy back to Q-School, McElroy joins him

August 29, 2013 Brian Keogh

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