European Tour to stage Qualifying School event in Australia
Rosebud Country Club near Melbourne will stage the first European Tour Qualifying School event outside Europe when it hosts a First Stage qualifier from September 1-4. Credit: Rosebud Country Club
The European Tour Qualifying School will make its first appearance outside of Europe when Rosebud Country Club, on the outskirts of Melbourne, Australia hosts a First Stage event in 2020.
European Tour hopefuls will tee it up in Australia from September 1-4, marking the first time in the European Tour Qualifying School’s 45-year history that an event will be staged in the country and outside of Europe.
Rosebud Country Club, which boasts two 18-hole golf courses, opened in 1964 and will be the first event of the 2020 Qualifying School journey when it hosts Section A First Stage, which will see competitors play four rounds, with the leading players earning a place in Second Stage.
Mike Stewart, European Tour Qualifying School Director, said: “We are thrilled to have a European Tour Qualifying School event in Australia for the first time. It is a historic moment for Qualifying School as we move to new venues across the globe, with the desire to play European Tour golf continuing to grow.
“Australia has a famed history of producing world-class golfers and we have seen that already this season with Adam Scott, Lucas Herbert and Min Woo Lee already winners on the 2020 Race to Dubai. With a Qualifying School event in Australia, it provides golfers in the Asia-Pacific region the opportunity to earn their place on the European Tour.
“We are looking forward to working with Nick Dastey at the PGA of Australia, as well as Danny McGrath and his team at Rosebud Country Club, ahead of this exciting occasion for golf in this region.”
Danny McGrath, Rosebud Country Club General Manager, added: “Rosebud Country Club is extremely honoured to be partnering with the European Tour to host the First Stage Qualifying School event, held outside of Europe. Our club has a proud member base and a strong history of supporting the PGA of Australia and its members. We are very excited to have the opportunity to showcase the first-class North course to the entrants and contribute to fulfilling a dream of qualifying to play on the European Tour in 2021.”
Nick Dastey, the PGA’s Tournaments Director Australasia, said hosting a qualifying event in Melbourne will give more Aussie golfers the opportunity to advance their careers on the European Tour.
“We are really excited to work with our partners at the European Tour to bring the very first European Tour Qualifying School First Stage to Australia,” Dastey said.
“This is a great opportunity for our members along with the elite amateurs in this country looking to turn professional. The Rosebud Country Club is a fantastic facility and one that will be a fitting host for this ground-breaking event.
“The PGA of Australia has had a terrific and long-lasting relationship with Rosebud, which previously hosted the Australian PGA Championship and many Pro-Am events”.
The importance of First Stage was shown by Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Gonnet in 2019, as he progressed through all three stages to clinch the 28th and final European Tour card at Final Stage in November. American Kurt Kitayama won Section D First Stage in 2018 ahead of claiming his European Tour playing rights en route to his successes in Mauritius and Oman.
Jake McLeod (2019), Deyen Lawson and Nick Cullen (2018) are some of the recent Australians to earn their European Tour cards through Qualifying School.
Calle Carlsson (left) General Manager at Lumine Golf Club with Mike Stewart, European Tour Qualifying School Director. Picture: European Tour
Lumine Golf Club was confirmed in December as the host venue of the European Tour Qualifying School Final Stage for the next three years.
The Spanish venue first began its association with the European Tour Qualifying School in 2012 when it became a Second Stage Qualifying venue, before becoming the location for the six-round Final Stage, described as one of the toughest events in golf, in 2017.
Lumine’s two courses - The Hills and The Lakes - have so far seen 468 players tee it up at three pressure-packed Final Stage events, all hoping to seal one of 25 European Tour cards for the following season, and will continue to welcome European Tour hopefuls from 2020-2022.
In 2019, Denmark’s Benjamin Poke carded six sub-70 rounds at Lumine to win by six shots, while his compatriot Rasmus Højgaard became the first player born in the 21st century to secure his playing privileges at Qualifying School. The 18-year-old immediately reaped the benefits, triumphing at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open two weeks later to become the third youngest winner on the European Tour.
Mike Stewart, European Tour Qualifying School Director, said: “Lumine Golf Club has provided a terrific test for players since 2012, even more so since it became a Final Stage venue, pushing players all the way as they go in search of a European Tour card in one of golf’s most dramatic events.
“The quality of both courses, plus Lumine’s fantastic practice facilities and hospitality, have drawn praise from competitors and we look forward to working with Calle Carlsson and his team on delivering more successful editions of the event in the coming years.”
Calle Carlsson, General Manager at Lumine Golf Club, said: “Welcoming back the European Tour Qualifying School Final Stage for 2020 is an honour. We are delighted to yet again be hosting this prestigious event as it will be the fourth consecutive year that golfing hopefuls will battle it out on the Lumine golf courses.
“We have worked hard on the quality and test of golf we have here and I am immensely proud of my team as it is testament to their hard work and commitment that the European Tour have chosen to return to Lumine. We look forward to welcoming this year’s hopefuls to Lumine in November.”
