And then there were nine. In this case, nine through to November's Second Stage of the European Tour Qualifying School in Spain.

On Friday, Naas amateur Jack Hume and Greystones' professional Paul Dunne joined the other seven successful Irish entrants from Section A, when they came through their Section B qualifier at Golfclub Schloss Ebreichsdorf in Austria.

Hume shot his fourth successive sub-par round, a three under 69, to finish fourth on 11 under par, five shots behind event winner Dodge Kemmer of the US.

And while Dunne complained of "atrocious" putting, he finished only a shot further back in joint fifth on 10 under after a 70 at a venue where 23 players qualified on three under or better. Austrian scores

There were no Irish qualifiers at Collingtree Park  in England, where Clontarf's Eamonn Brady and Royal County Down's Reeve Whitson were the biggest Irish names taking part.

Brady (69) finished on three over with Peter McGibney (75) seven over,  Whitson (77) eight over and Richard Weldon (75) back on nine over. Collingtree Park scores

Hurley officially signs for Hambric - heading for Affred Dunhill Links

It was not unexpected but it took until Friday for Dunne and Hume's Walker Cup team mate Gary Hurley to sign his first professional contract with the European arm of agents Hambric Sports Group.

The West Waterford man begins with sponsorship from his alma mater Maynooth University, where he became the first graduate of  the Paddy Harrington Golf Scholarship to win Walker Cup honours.

Hurley will make his first European Tour start as a professional alongside Dunne having received an invitation for the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship next week before heading to Mount Wolseley for the Challenge Tour event.

After that there are high hopes he can land an invitation for the Portugal Masters before he heads to the Second Stage of the Q-School.

EUROPEAN TOUR QUALIFYING SCHOOL 2015 - IRISH ENTRIES FOR FIRST STAGE

SEP 15-18  FIRST QUALIFYING STAGE SECTION A THE ROXBURGHE HOTEL & GOLF COURSE, KELSO, UK

1. Richard BRIDGES DID NOT QUALIFY
2. Jonathan CALDWELL Clandeboye GC Qualified
3. Colm CAMPBELL JNR (AM) Qualified
4. Brian CASEY Headfort GC  Qualified
5. Alan DUNBAR Team Ireland Qualified
6. Gary HURLEY (AM) West Waterford GC Qualified
7. Richard KILPATRICK Banbridge GC  Qualified
8. Dermot MCELROY (AM) Ballymena GC DID NOT QUALIFY
9. Rory MCNAMARA La Cala Resort  Qualified
10. Richard O’DONOVAN Lucan GC DID NOT QUALIFY
11. Simon WARD Belvoir Park DID NOT QUALIFY

SEP 15-18 FIRST QUALIFYING STAGE SECTION A FLEESENSEE, GERMANY

1. Stephen GRANT Mount Juliet GC DID NOT QUALIFY

SEP 22-25 FIRST QUALIFYING STAGE SECTION B COLLINGTREE PARK, NORTHAMPTON, UK

1. Ciaran BOGGAN Co Meath Golf Club DID NOT QUALIFY
2. Eamonn BRADY Clontarf GC DID NOT QUALIFY
3. JD GUINEY Ballybunion GC DID NOT QUALIFY
4. Peter MCGIBNEY DID NOT QUALIFY
5. Richard WELDON Killeen Castle GC DID NOT QUALIFY
6. Reeve WHITSON Royal County Down G.C. DID NOT QUALIFY

SEP 22-25 FIRST QUALIFYING STAGE SECTION B EBREICHSDORF, GOLFCLUB SCHLOSS EBREICHSDORF, AUSTRIA

1. Paul DUNNE (AM) Qualified
2. Jack HUME (AM) Naas GC Qualified

SEP 29-OCT 02 FIRST QUALIFYING STAGE SECTION C GOLF D’HARDELOT, FRANCE

1. Michael McGEADY Northwest GC

SEP 29-OCT 02 FIRST QUALIFYING STAGE SECTION C RIBAGOLFE, LISBON, PORTUGAL

1. David CAREY
2. Johnathan MALLON
3. Brendan McCARROLL Team Ireland
4. Gavin MOYNIHAN (AM) The Island GC
5. Tim RICE Limerick GC

OCT 06-09 FIRST QUALIFYING STAGE SECTION D FRILFORD HEATH RED, ABINGDON, UK

1. John Ross GALBRAITH (AM) Whitehead
2. David RAWLUK The Island GC

OCT 06-09 FIRST QUALIFYING STAGE SECTION D CIRCOLO GOLF BOGOGNO, ITALY

1. No Irish