Caldwell top of the class as magnificent seven come through First Stage
Clandeboye's Jonny Caldwell closed with an eight under 64 to win the European Tour Qualifying School First Stage Section A at The Roxburghe Hotel and Golf Course in Scotland.
On a magnificent final day for the Irish, Rory McIlroy's 2007 Walker Cup partner finished five shots clear pn 16 under par with American Brinson Paolini (69) – a Challenge Tour winner in 2013 – tied second alongside Englishmen Matthew Cort (72) and Chris Rodgers (71).
Headfort's Rory McNamara boosted his chances of an invitation to play in next month's Volopa Irish Challenge hosted by Mount Wolseley Hotel Spa and Golf Resort, closing with a five under 67 to finish tied sixth at a verne where a total of 21 players made it through to the Second Stage, which will be played across four Spanish venues in November.
"I played pretty well all week and just holed few extra putts today," McNamara said after coming through First Stage at the second attempt. "I played the course well all week and hit alot of fairways and greens, stayed patient and knew I was playing well enough to be up there.
"I'm looking forward to Stage Two now so hopefully this week's performance can help me get a start in Mount Wolseley in the Challenge Tour event. That would be fantastic."
Stage 1 : ✔️ 👊
— Gary Hurley (@GaryHurley93) September 18, 2015All seven Irish players who made the 54-hole cut in Scotland — 11 entered — got through to the Second Stage with Alan Dunbar's 69 good enough for a share of eighth on eight under.
The qualifying mark was one under par but Walker Cup star Gary Hurley, who had a started the day one shot outside the number, made it with five shots to spare as he dropped just one shots in an impressive, five under 67 to finish solo 10th on six under.
Warrenpoint's Colm Campbell, playing as an amateur, was also hugely impressive on his Q-School debut, posting rounds of 71 72 70 and 70 with his uncle, Paddy Gribben on the bag.
he was 11th on six five under with Banbridge's Richard Kilpatrick 12th, a further shot back.
Headfort's Brian Casey made it on the mark, carding four birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey in a rollercoaster 73 to finish tied 18th.
At the other Section A qualifier at Fleesensee Golf and Country Club in Germany, Sweden’s Marcus Larsson was a convincing winner thanks to a four under par 68 as 29 players progressed on two under or better.
Mount Juliet's Stephen Grant was 47th on two over after rounds of 76 71 71 and 72.
The Second Stage, which will be held across four Spanish venues in November with the Final Stage will be held at PGA Catalunya Resort near Girona, Spain in late November, where the top 25 players and ties will earn a place on The European Tour in 2016.
Qualifiers from The Roxburghe
1 Jonathan CALDWELL NIR 71 69 68 64 272 -16
2 Matthew CORT ENG 71 68 66 72 277 -11
Chris RODGERS ENG 70 68 68 71 277 -11
Brinson PAOLINI USA 73 66 69 69 277 -11
5 Rhys ENOCH WAL 68 67 70 73 278 -10
6 Ben STOW ENG 71 72 68 68 279 -9
Rory MCNAMARA IRL 70 72 70 67 279 -9
8 Mark HILLSON SCO 69 68 69 74 280 -8
Alan DUNBAR NIR 69 69 73 69 280 -8
10 Gary HURLEY IRL 71 72 72 67 282 -6
11 Colm CAMPBELL JNR (AM) IRL 71 72 70 70 283 -5
12 Richard KILPATRICK NIR 73 71 68 72 284 -4
13 Kris GRAY ENG 71 71 75 68 285 -3
Daniel YOUNG (AM) SCO 70 75 70 70 285 -3
15 Jack HARRISON ENG 74 72 68 72 286 -2
Levi DESMOND ENG 73 72 67 74 286 -2
Mark YOUNG ENG 72 71 71 72 286 -2
18 Brian CASEY IRL 75 70 69 73 287 -1
Neil HENDERSON SCO 68 72 71 76 287 -1
Andreas GRONKVIST SWE 71 71 74 71 287 -1
Dustin MILLS USA 73 68 73 73 287 -1
Qualifiers from Fleesensee
1 Marcus LARSSON SWE 69 66 64 68 267 -21
2 Richard PETTERSSON SWE 67 68 70 67 272 -16
3 Benjamin HENRY POKE ENG 72 68 71 66 277 -11
4 Romain LANGASQUE (AM) FRA 71 68 71 68 278 -10
5 Claes ISAKSSON SWE 69 66 77 68 280 -8
6 Björn PETTERSSON SWE 72 68 71 70 281 -7
Lauri RUUSKA (AM) FIN 74 65 68 74 281 -7
8 Will ROEBUCK ENG 72 71 68 71 282 -6
Anton WEJSHAG SWE 69 70 73 70 282 -6
10 Erik OJA SWE 77 67 69 70 283 -5
Ludwig NORDEKLINT SWE 71 71 72 69 283 -5
Nathan ANDERSON USA 69 67 76 71 283 -5
Antonio MURDACA (AM) AUS 74 70 70 69 283 -5
Mikael SALMINEN FIN 71 67 72 73 283 -5
15 Sebastian HEISELE GER 67 72 69 76 284 -4
Christopher CARSTENSEN (AM) GER 74 68 69 73 284 -4
17 Peter VEJGAARD DEN 74 70 71 70 285 -3
Johannes VEERMAN USA 74 69 75 67 285 -3
Filip MRUZEK CZE 74 68 71 72 285 -3
Daniel LØKKE DEN 71 70 72 72 285 -3
David ANTONELLI FRA 70 72 71 72 285 -3
Mark F HAASTRUP DEN 69 71 74 71 285 -3
23 Javier COLOMO ESP 73 68 71 74 286 -2
Fabian BECKER GER 75 68 72 71 286 -2
Alexandre DAYDOU (AM) FRA 72 70 67 77 286 -2
Cesar COSTILLA ARG 76 68 66 76 286 -2
Gavin GREEN MAS 70 73 76 67 286 -2
Kalle SAMOOJA FIN 72 68 75 71 286 -2
Robin ASKSTRAND SWE 72 72 70 72 286 -2
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Non qualifiers
47 Stephen GRANT IRL 76 71 71 72 290 +2
