David Carey led a quartet of Irish golfers into next month’s Second Stage of the European Tour Qualifying School in Spain.

An Alps Tour winner last month, where he carded an 11-under 57 in the first round, the Dubliner (23) posted rounds of 66, 61, 68 and 69 to finish joint winner on 24-under par with American Justin Hicks.

They led the 19 qualifiers in Italy where Naas’ Conor O’Rourke in joint seventh on 15-under after he closed with a four-under 68.

Just two of the five Irish entrants finished among the 21 qualifiers on four-under or better at Frilford Heath in Oxfordshire.

Whitehead’s John Ross Galbraith tied for third on nine-under 279, six strokes behind Sweden’s Jesper Kennegard following a closing 69 with Royal Dublin’s Niall Kearney tied for 10th, two strokes further back after a 72.

Ballymena’s Dermot McElroy missed out by three strokes in one-under with The Island’s Paul McBride two strokes further back after a final round 74.

Tyler Hogarty and Daniel Brennan (Section A) have already progressed to the Second Stage.

The final First Stage Section E Qualifiers take place at Bom Sucesso in Portugal and Golf d’Hardelot in France next week (October 9-12).

Derry's Ruaidhri McGee and Birr's Stephen Grant also missed out comfortably in their First Stage Qualifiers for the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament in Florida.

European Tour Qualifying School, First Stage Europe Section D

At Frilford Heath, England (Par 72)

Detailed scores

Leading qualifiers (21 qualified on 284 or better)

1, 273 J Kennegard (Swe) 68 68 71 66;

2, 278 Y Liu (Chn) 70 69 69 70;

T3, 279 D Langley (Eng) 71 71 70 67, JR Galbraith (Nir) 67 72 71 69;

T10, 282 N Kearney (Irl) 69 71 70 72.

Non-qualifiers: ​T27, 287 D McElroy 71 72 73 71; 289 P McBride 72 69 74 74. 54-hole cut: 220 J Hickey 72 76 72.

At Bogogno Golf Resort, Italy (Par 72)

Detailed scores

Leading qualifiers (19 qualified on 280 or better)

T1, 264 J Hicks (USA) 66 66 69 63, D Carey (Irl) 66 61 68 69;

T7, 273 C O'Rourke (Irl) 71 63 71 68.

54-hole Cut: 217 J Yates (Irl) 70 72 75; 222 D Loftus 71 75 76.

Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament, Florida, First stage

At Grasslands G&CC, Lakeland, (Par 72), 23 qualified on 11-under 277:

1, C Arendell 268 68 65 67 68; Non-qualifier: T60, 289 R McGee (Ire) 71 74 73 71.

At The Breakers Rees Jones, West Palm Beach, (Par 72), 22 qualified on 4-under 284 or better:

1, R Kong 270 68 68 65 69l. Non-qualifier: T36, 293 S Grant (Ire) 76 72 69 76.