Hot start for John Hickey at Alps Tour Q-School

John Hickey (Cork) teeing off in the third round of the South of Ireland Championship at Lahinch. Saturday 28th July 2018. Picture: Niall O’Shea

Cork's John Hickey got his bid for an Alps Tour card off to the perfect start when he fired a five-under-par 66 in the 36-hole First Stage of the 2019 Alps Tour Qualifying School at La Cala Resort in Spain.

One of 175 players in action at three venues, the Munster interprovincial is tied for the lead with England's Jack Clarkson at the America Course where the top 32 qualify for the Final Stage at La Cala from December 13-15.

Peter Dallat is 22nd at the same venue while amateur Owen Crooks is tied 33rd at the Asia Course, where 33 will progress.

Austrian Clemens Prader shot a seven-under 65 to lead on the Asia Course while Frenchmen Timothee Guin and Florent Ales shot two-under 69s on the Europa Course where nine of the 21 entrants qualify.

The qualifiers will join the 70 players already exempt for the Final Stage where there will be 35 spots available for category six next year.

Justin Brink, Michael Dallat, Stephen Grant and Jonathan Yates are all expected to tee it up at the Final Stage.