12 Irish to continue Q-School quest at Second Stage

Gary Hurley

Twelve Irishman will continue their quest for DP World Tour cards in the Second Stage of the Q-School at four Spanish venues on Thursday.

While Jonny Caldwell and Paul Dunne and Challenge Tour Grand Final contestants Tom McKibbin and John Murphy are exempt into next week's gruelling six-round Final Stage in Tarragona, there's a big hurdle to be jumped for the other 12 this week.

But while all are guaranteed some status on the Challenge Tour in 2023, the 12 in action at Q-School today must finish in the top 20 pc of their fields to make next week's Final Stage.

Jonathan Yates, winner of the Alps Tour Grand Final, goes at Isla Canela Links in Huelva while Gary Hurley, Stuart Grehan, Paul McBride and Conor Purcell go at Emporda Golf in Girona.

Desert Springs in Almeria is the venue for Ruaidhri McGee, Gavin Moynihan, Conor O'Rourke and amateur Robert Moran while Niall Kearney, Dermot McElroy and Cormac Sharvin will be in action at Las Colinas Golf & Country Club in Alicante.

Ranked 15th in the Challenge Tour rankings, McKibbin looks likely to win one of 20 DP World Tour cards on offer in this week's Rolex Challenge Tour Grand Final supported by The R&A at Club de Golf Alcanada from tomorrow with 42nd ranked Murphy also in with a chance.

The Q-School Final Stage is the only route to the DP World Tour for the rest as it returns for the first time since 2019.