Clandeboye’s Jonathan Caldwell at the Final Stage of the 2019 European Tour Qualifying School. Picture: Europro Tour

The road to success is not a straight line but while Jonny Caldwell has only achieved the first part of the job — the entry ticket to the big circus where hopes are high and sympathy is in short supply— his journey from top amateur to European Tour player has had more twists and turns than a Donald Trump impeachment hearing.

At 35, the Clandeboye golfer is hoping to make up for lost time after winning back his European Tour card following an 11-year walk in golf’s unforgiving backwaters.

He was a member of a talented generation of Irish amateurs and with Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry, Reggie Kilpatrick, Gareth Shaw and Simon Ward, won the first of back-to-back European Amateur Team Championship titles at Western Gailes in Scotland in 2007.

Caldwell tied for fifth in strokeplay qualifyiing that week with the likes of Richie Ramsay, one stroke behind McIlroy, Paul Waring and Kevin McAlpine. He left future European Tour winners like Victor Dubuisson and Andrea Pavan, and a future Open champion in Lowry, far behind.

Jonny Caldwell (far right) with Neil Manchip, Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy at Western Gailes in 2007. Picture: GUI

He'd partner McIlroy in that year's Walker Cup, halving with Colt Knost and Dustin Johnson on day one before following a 2&1 loss to Billy Horschel and Rickie Fowler with a two-up singles win over Kyle Stanley, who has since gone on to win two titles and $15 million on the PGA Tour.

He then joined the Holywood star on the European Tour for the 2009 season and they played a practice round with Lowry ahead of the Irish Open at Baltray.

Caldwell shot a 76 in the bad weather and followed it with a 67 to miss the cut as Lowry shot 62 that Friday and never looked back.

McIlroy has gone on to win four majors and spend 95 weeks as world No 1. But in a perfect example of players finding their feet at different rates, it's been a long road back for Caldwell.

He's played 16 European Tour events and made just five cuts since 2009 while in a truncated Challenge Tour career he’s earned cash in just 25 of 50 starts over the last 10 years.

When the financial crisis hit, he ended up behind the counter in golf retail in Bangor for more than three years before slowly regaining his confidence on the Europro Tour, storming back into the big time at the marathon, six-round Final Stage of the European Tour Qualifying School in Spain yesterday

"I am absolutely over the moon," said Caldwell, who was teetering in 25th place after a bogey on the dangerous 15th - "a par-four beast of 500 yards, not my kind of hole" — on the Lakes Course before finishing birdie-par-birdie to close with a four-under 67 and win the 19th of 28 European Tour cards on 13-under par.

After playing safe and then knocking in a 25 footer at the par-five 16th, he hit the 18th in two and two-puttied for another birdie to earn his ticket to the big time for the second time.

"The golf was good all week, I just kept doing what I was doing, and thankfully it was enough," said Caldwell, who racked up 27 birdies in the 108-hole marathon to finish one shot inside the 12-under cut-off.

"I could see what 25th place was on the leaderboard, but I set myself a target of 13-under overall, and I reached it."

Gavin Moynihan shot a two-under 69 and Niall Kearney a 71 to finish four shots outside the magic number on eight-under, securing Challenge Tour status.

But Caldwell can now look forward to playing for millions the main Tour over the next 12 months, and he's hoping to make up for lost time after getting back into the game on the mini-tours in 2014 after spending almost four years in retail.

"You can never say it's tough playing golf, but it hasn't been easy in recent years, and it means a huge amount," he said.

"I am certainly better equipped and better focussed to take on what I have ahead of me than I was in 2009. I guess you could say I'm married to the game."

He does not compare himself to his major winning former teammates, but he knows he can compete.

"Shane and Rory are at a different level to me, but I'm looking forward to being on the European Tour and hopefully making a decent living at the game.

"I was working in the local Nevada Bob's for a long time but thanks to friends like Bill and Karen McAllister who gave me a chance to get out of the shop and play golf again and Bernard Eastwood from Wirefox, who's been more than just a sponsor, I have been able to go and chase my dream."

Dubliners Kearney and Moynihan won strong Challenge Tour cards, and both were looking on the bright side despite coming up short.

"I've got great status now for next season which is super," said Kearney. "I've no regrets. I gave it 100 per cent

"I think I'm a better player now than I was even 12 months ago and I made some good decisions through the six days with regard to strategy."

As for Moynihan, who was hoping to win his card at the Q-School for the third year in a row, he failed to convert the myriad chances he gave himself over the four days but left Spain in good spirits, knowing he too is improving all the time.

"My game is in a much better place now that it was in summer, so I'm not too disappointed," Moynihan said. "I'll concentrate on Challenge Tour and play six or seven events on the main tour and see how it goes."

Denmark's Benjamin Poke closed with a seven-under 64 to clinch an emphatic six-stroke victory over of three-time European Tour winner Grégory Havret on 25-under-par.

The Dane, who led from the second round at Lumine Golf Club, was in complete control throughout the marathon test, breaking 70 each day to post rounds of 67-67-69-67-69-64 and seal victory ahead of three-time European Tour winner Grégory Havret, who came second on 19 under par.

Poke, 27, has just completed his rookie season on the European Challenge Tour and will be joined on the top tier by his 18-year-old countryman Rasmus Højgaard, who overcame an opening-round 74 to finish Final Stage in a share of fifth place on 16 under par.

The promise of a thrilling conclusion to Final Stage was fulfilled again on the Lakes Course as American Sihwan Kim carded an eight-under-par final round of 63 to jump 38 places and finish the tournament with a European Tour card in hand, as he cemented a share of 17th place.

Kim's fellow American Johannes Veerman also completed an impressive turnaround, and after opening Final Stage with a pair of 74s, the 27-year-old came storming back to close with rounds of 67-67-66-66 to end the tournament on 14 under par, booking his ticket to the European Tour with a tied 13th place finish.

The greatest excitement was delivered by Rikard Karlberg, who holed a 50-foot putt on the 108th and final hole to finish in a tie for 25th place, picking up the last available European Tour card. The emphatic end to the gruelling tournament completed an emotional comeback for the Swede, who returned to professional golf in 2019 following a battle with a serious infection and depression.

Frenchmen Havret, Jean-Baptiste Gonnet, Adrien Saddier and Robin Sciot-Siegrist all booked their tickets to the European Tour at Final Stage, equalling the record for the number of French players to graduate from Qualifying School.

The 2019 European Tour Qualifying School was contested over 252 holes in three stages across 14 different venues. A record number of 1,063 entrants bid for one of the coveted European Tour cards, surpassing the previous record of 1,026 from 2017.

Benjamin Poke: "To play on the European Tour is something that you always dream about when you are young, so to finally stand here with my card is unbelievable.

"I know that when I get it going I can shoot really low and that I'm playing well, but I was still really nervous going out there this morning. I kept trusting my game and trusted my swing and my game plan. I never relaxed though, because I know that anything can happen in this game, so it was a matter of just taking things one shot at a time.

"Some weeks on Challenge Tour this year I gave myself a good shot at lifting a title and unfortunately got beaten, but they were good weeks and good performances.

"Before this week, I knew that I had developed my game a lot since last year. I was happy to reach the Road to Mallorca Grand Final, and I was thinking that anything I managed to do this week was a bit of a bonus. I managed to keep that mentality all week and not get too far ahead of myself, just focus on the day in hand.

"I'm planning to celebrate this moment for a while. You work so hard and then there are times when you are struggling and it's not easy, but you've got to get up and carry on and celebrate the good times when they happen."

Grégory Havret: "I've missed the European Tour since last year and even though I had a great time playing on the Challenge Tour this season it was make-or-break for me this week in terms of my career, so it's a big relief to secure my card this week.

"Our wives, so much of the time, are the most important people around us and that's certainly the case for me. She wants me to go out there and live my passion as best I can and she has always supported me with that, so this achievement is for her.

"I'm turning 43 on Monday so I don't have too long left in my career but I'm going to take the positives from this week and come back out on the Tour a little bit fresher and enjoy being back in the company of my friends on the European Tour."

Rikard Karlberg: "I hit my second shot a bit further away from the pin than I wanted and had around 50 feet for birdie. I had a feeling all day that the number would be 12 under par, so I knew I needed to hole it. When I hit it, I thought it should be good and then I saw it was tracing the line perfectly and saw the speed and thought 'come on, just reach'.

"The euphoria I felt was just happiness. I don't think anyone really likes this week. It's horrible. It's pressure all week and you're walking with tension and you don't have much room for error. This week has been so frustrating with my putter; I missed so many putts and then to be able to hole that one when I needed, it just feels fantastic.

"I think I am a better golfer now than I was then. I've played a few years on Tour and I've learned about the pressure and I've learned that you need to hit the shots, even if you're nervous."

Sihwan Kim: "I knew I had to post a number so I just went out there really aggressive, took the right lines and just swung at it.

"I've been in Europe for a while now, since 2012, so this is nothing new to me. I'm pretty tired but pretty happy about the score I posted.

"I knew what I had to do and I knew I had to post a really good number today so I just went out there and did it."

Rasmus Højgaard: "It feels amazing to have my European Tour card. It's been such a long week to get it done feels very special.

"I kind of knew once Nicolai was on the back nine that he wasn't going to get his card. It's sad that he isn't going to get his card and that we won't be together on the European Tour next year, but that's just how it is sometimes. I can play good for a few weeks and then he can come in with a good few weeks, it's different almost every week and that is how golf is sometimes.

"When I hit my tee shot on 17 then I knew that I was going to be OK and I just relaxed a little and thought 'I've got this now' and to get a good drive away on the 18th was huge."

European Tour Qualifying School Final Stage, Lumine GC, Tarragona, Spain (Last 2 rds. at Lakes Course, Par 71)

Detailed scores

Final

European Tour cards

403 B Poke (Den) 67 67 69 67 69 64;

409 G Havret (Fra) 68 70 71 66 68 66;

410 A Cañizares (Esp) 66 71 74 64 68 67;

411 S Chawrasia (Ind) 69 66 71 67 69 69;

412 R Højgaard (Den) 73 68 71 68 66 66; L Canter (Eng) 68 71 70 70 66 67; A Cockerill (Can) 73 66 69 67 68 69;

413 R Sciot-Siegrist (Fra) 68 71 72 67 67 68; C Pigem (Esp) 71 66 73 66 69 68; J Choi (Kor) 68 72 69 64 70 70; A Saddier (Fra) 68 72 67 67 68 71; S Valimaki (Fin) 67 68 73 65 68 72;

414 J Veerman (USA) 74 74 67 67 66 66; G Porteous (Eng) 70 71 70 68 68 67; J McLeod (Aus) 70 69 68 70 67 70; M Armitage (Eng) 68 72 69 65 69 71;

415 S Kim (USA) 73 70 68 71 70 63; P Figueiredo (Por) 68 70 69 71 71 66; Jonny Caldwell (Nir) 71 69 72 67 69 67; B Dredge (Wal) 70 71 69 69 69 67; D Coupland (Eng) 69 71 71 67 69 68; D Fichardt (RSA) 71 72 68 71 64 69; L Van Meijel (Ned) 69 71 65 70 71 69; T Tree (Eng) 67 67 72 68 69 72;

416 R Karlberg (Swe) 72 70 71 69 68 66; N Lemke (Swe) 67 70 72 72 69 66; D Whitnell (Eng) 69 70 73 66 70 68; J Gonnet (Fra) 66 72 75 65 69 69.

Challenge Tour cards

417 J Felton (Aus) 70 77 66 68 70 66; D Young (Sco) 69 69 72 72 67 68; T Gandy (Imn) 70 70 73 66 69 69; W Nienaber (RSA) 69 73 70 65 71 69; H Long (Ger) 67 71 71 65 74 69;

418 C Howie (Sco) 72 70 70 70 70 66; M Fenasse (Fra) 71 73 69 69 69 67; S Tiley (Eng) 73 69 73 66 68 69; L Scalise (Ita) 67 69 73 70 70 69;

419 P Eriksson (Swe) 68 74 71 68 72 66; M Siem (Ger) 73 71 68 70 69 68; W Besseling (Ned) 69 67 73 70 69 71; R Petersson (Swe) 70 70 74 64 69 72; N Von Dellingshausen (Ger) 68 68 71 67 72 73; M Schneider (Ger) 69 69 69 67 71 74;

420 Gavin Moynihan (Irl) 70 69 75 68 69 69; B Easton (RSA) 73 70 66 69 73 69; L De Jager (RSA) 69 68 70 68 76 69; H Leon (Chi) 71 72 68 68 71 70; D Dixon (Eng) 71 68 69 67 75 70; Niall Kearney (Irl) 71 72 70 69 67 71; R Van West (Ned) 70 69 71 68 71 71;

421 A Karlsson (Swe) 71 72 68 71 72 67; J Catlin (USA) 65 73 73 70 72 68; M Warren (Sco) 71 72 67 69 74 68; M Baldwin (Eng) 74 69 69 70 70 69; J Kaske (Fin) 72 73 70 66 71 69; N Højgaard (Den) 69 70 73 68 69 72;

422 M Kim (Kor) 68 71 70 73 74 66; D Gavins (Eng) 74 67 67 71 72 71; E Ferguson (Sco) 71 72 69 64 75 71; J Wrisdale (Eng) 69 72 70 68 70 73; J Lima (Por) 71 68 72 70 66 75;

423 S Matus (Cze) 70 71 68 72 75 67; J Sandborg (Swe) 69 70 74 68 73 69; G Higgo (RSA) 72 67 69 70 72 73;

424 D Papadatos (Aus) 68 69 73 69 75 70; E Walker (Sco) 67 73 70 70 73 71;

425 A Zemmer (Ita) 68 70 74 68 78 67;

426 T Linard (Fra) 73 71 68 70 75 69; B Stow (Eng) 72 72 69 69 74 70; U Coussaud (Fra) 71 72 71 68 71 73; P Oriol (Esp) 67 72 77 65 68 77;

427 D Lawson (Aus) 71 72 68 70 75 71;

428 T Lee (Kor) 73 67 71 70 79 68;

431 B Henson (USA) 72 67 72 70 73 77;

432 G Stal (Fra) 71 73 68 70 76 74;

433 C Hanna (USA) 72 73 68 68 79 73.

Missed cut:

283 L Johnston (Sco) 72 69 76 66; D Van Tonder (RSA) 69 73 74 67; B Evans (Eng) 71 70 72 70; D Perrier (Fra) 71 72 66 74; Robin Dawson (Irl) 70 71 72 70; B Virto (Esp) 69 70 75 69; K Reitan (Nor) 70 71 74 68; T Oneal (USA) 70 71 72 70; N Schietekat (RSA) 69 71 71 72; D Kemmer (USA) 70 73 67 73;

284 M Lindberg (Swe) 71 75 71 67; F Mruzek (Cze) 75 72 67 70; Å Nilsson (Swe) 70 73 69 72;

285 D Quinones (USA) 76 71 68 70; G Fdez-Castaño (Esp) 71 77 66 71; J Kruyswijk (RSA) 69 75 69 72; B Windred (Aus) 71 67 75 72; B Hutchinson (Eng) 69 73 76 67;

286 B Hellgren (Swe) 73 70 72 71; S Gregory (Eng) 68 75 71 72; M Simonsen (Den) 74 71 68 73; L Ruuska (Fin) 72 75 64 75; G Kristjansson (Isl) 72 67 75 72; T Fisher Jnr (RSA) 75 69 69 73; J Sjöholm (Swe) 76 70 70 70; A Hidalgo (Esp) 72 71 71 72; C Cannon (Eng) 71 73 70 72; J Quesne (Fra) 68 74 75 69;

287 J Geary (Nzl) 74 68 72 73; G Bourdy (Fra) 72 70 75 70; C Sordet (Fra) 72 71 68 76; R Enoch (Wal) 75 69 69 74; R McGowan (Eng) 71 71 74 71; N Kristensen (Den) 72 71 75 69; W Enefer (Eng) 73 76 63 75; G King (Eng) 74 72 70 71;

288 S Saavedra (Arg) 71 74 70 73; M Eggenberger (Swi) 72 70 73 73; B Rumford (Aus) 70 72 75 71; E Johansen (Nor) 71 70 72 75; J Kahlos (Fin) 74 69 69 76; J Fahrbring (Swe) 70 69 76 73;

289 B Petursson (Isl) 74 66 77 72; N Flanagan (Aus) 74 69 73 73; T Rosenmüller (Ger) 74 70 70 75; J Zunic (Aus) 70 73 68 78; J Jones (Can) 76 70 69 74; F Lacroix (Fra) 71 72 71 75;

290 Z Murray (Aus) 70 73 69 78; R Wattel (Fra) 72 75 71 72; E Cuartero Blanco (Esp) 74 70 70 76; M Gilchrest (USA) 73 74 74 69; B Ferguson (Aus) 72 70 75 73;

291 J Thomson (Eng) 73 74 71 73; M Muthiya (Zam) 73 72 72 74; L Hirst (Eng) 75 76 72 68;

292 M Rottluff (Ger) 71 73 72 76; J Arnoy (Nor) 72 74 65 81; B Briscoe (Wal) 76 72 72 72; J Glennemo (Swe) 74 69 71 78;

293 S Hawkes (Aus) 70 76 73 74; G Mulroy (RSA) 74 74 69 76; D Micheluzzi (Aus) 74 75 63 81; M Decottignies-Lafon (Fra) 75 79 68 71; Michael Hoey (Nir) 71 79 72 71; A Bjornsson (Isl) 72 73 71 77; C Blomstrand (Swe) 75 71 73 74;

294 L Slattery (Eng) 71 72 73 78; B Ritthammer (Ger) 68 78 73 75;

295 S Gros (Fra) 72 72 74 77; E De La Riva (Esp) 71 76 75 73;

296 M Schmitt (Ger) 74 69 70 83;

297 F Gustavsson (Swe) 81 72 71 73;

301 M Manassero (Ita) 78 72 75 76;

302 S Webster (Eng) 74 76 79 73;

303 J Roos (RSA) 72 74 80 77;

RT/WD N Mauchaza (USA) 74 79 73 WD; O Lengden (Swe) 72 71 77 WD; J Donaldson (Wal) 73 72 RT.