LPGA — Royal Portrush's Stephanie Meadow cruised into the final stage of the LPGA Qualifying Tournament, which will be held at LPGA International– Jones & Hill Courses from December 3-7.

The former Curtis Cup and University of Alabama star finished tied for 16th in the LPGA Qualifying Tournament Stage II in Florida where 85 players clinched their place in the final stage on seven over or better.

Scores

Meadow went into the final round at Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice tied for eighth place but finished up tied for 16th on one-under after a two over par 74.

American Ginger Howard topped the qualifiers on nine under from amateur compatriot Alison Lee. 

European Tour Qualifying School — The Heritage's Stephen Grant couldn't produce the super low round he needed to progress to next month's Second Stage of the European Tour Qualifying School.

The former professional footballer, 37, finished six shots outside the one-under par qualifying mark in the  First Stage Section D event at Frilford Heath where the top 23 and ties progressed.

Grant closed with a two over 74 to finish tied for 39th on five over par as Welshman Mark Laskey shot a one under par 71 in tough scoring conditions on the Red Course to head the 26 qualifiers by two shots on 11 under.

In the corresponding Section D event at Ribagolfe, Alfredo Garcia-Heredia retained his top spot to clinch victory in Lisbon by two shots. The conclusion of Section D also denotes the completion of the First Stage of Qualifying School.

A total of 191 players advanced from the eight events and will tee up in Spain for the Second Stage, which is split across four courses from November 7-10. Those courses are as follows:

•       Las Colinas Golf & Country Club, Alicante

•       Campo de Golf El Saler, Valencia

•       Lumine Golf & Beach Club, Tarragona

•       Panoramica Golf & Sport Resort, Castellón

Just three of the 21 Irish who entered the First Stage made it through – Mark Murphy, Niall Turner and Michael McGeady. 

SEP 09-12 FIRST QUALIFYING STAGE SECTION A 

GOLFCLUB SCHLOSS EBREICHSDORF, EBREICHSDORF, AUSTRIA

1. Nial KEARNS Omagh Golf Club  Failed to qualify

THE ROXBURGHE HOTEL & GOLF COURSE, SCOTLAND

1. Brian CASEY Headfort GC  Failed to qualify

2. Paul CUTLER Portstewart GC  Failed to qualify

3. Alan DUNBAR Team Ireland  Failed to qualify

4. Dermot MCELROY (AM) Ballymena GC  Failed to qualify

5. Damian MOONEY Ballyliffin GC  Failed to qualify

6. Mark MURPHY Waterville GC QUALIFIED

7. Daniel SUGRUE Kilarney Golf & Fishing Club  Failed to qualify

SEP 16-19 FIRST QUALIFYING STAGE SECTION B 

FRILFORD HEATH BLUE, ABINGDON, ENGLAND

1. Cian CURLEY Newlands GC  Failed to qualify

2. Barry DALY (AM) Edmondstown GC  Failed to qualify

3. Richard KILPATRICK Banbridge GC  Failed to qualify

4. Matt MCALPIN The Ramore  Failed to qualify

5. David RAWLUK The Island GC  Failed to qualify

6. Reeve WHITSON Royal County Down G.C  Failed to qualify

FLEESENSEE, GERMANY

1. Richard O'DONOVAN  Failed to qualify

SEP 23-26 FIRST QUALIFYING STAGE SECTION C 

GOLF D’HARDELOT, HARDELOT, FRANCE

1. Michael McGEADY Northwest GC QUALIFIED

2. Rory MCNAMARA (AM) La Cala Resort Failed to qualify

3. Tim RICE Limerick GC Failed to qualify

4. Niall TURNER Muskerry GC, Cork QUALIFIED

CIRCOLO GOLF BOGOGNO, BOGOGNO, ITALY

• No Irish

SEP 30 - OCT 03 FIRST QUALIFYING STAGE SECTION D 

FRILFORD HEATH RED, FRILFORD HEATH, ABINGDON, ENGLAND

1. Stephen GRANT The Heritage, Ireland  Failed to qualify    

2. Mike KELLY Failed to qualify

RIBAGOLFE, LISBON, PORTUGAL

• No Irish

hallenge Tour — Mourne's Reeve Whitson missed the cut as Germany's Florian Fritsch took the lead before an overnight suspension at the end of the second day of the EMC Golf Challenge Open in Rome

Fritsch is playing his final event of the season hoping to claim a victory that would virtually seal his European Tour status next year as his fear of flying means he will not be able to participate in the European Challenge Tour’s ‘Final Swing’ – a series of four lucrative season-ending events in China, Oman and Dubai.

He needs to consolidate his place in the top 15 of the Rankings this week in order to graduate for The 2015 Race to Dubai.

Fritsch is well on the way as he carded a superb bogey-free four under par second round 67 to move to five under and take a one-shot lead at Olgiata Golf Club.

He did so with a help from both Lady Luck and Mother Nature, after he flew the 18th green with a rescue club from 242 yards and found a flower bed via a bounce on the cart path. Due to a number of obstacles, including a tree, Fritsch was left with a favourable free drop and duly took advantage to get up and down for a crucial par.

As for Whitson, who missed out at Stage One of Q-School last month, he shot rounds of 78 and 73 to miss the cut by four shots.

The former Spanish Amateur champion, 23, has enjoyed six sponsors' invitations for Challenge Tour events since July but is still waiting to make his first cheque.