Eighteen irish players started out in Section C at Stage 1 of European Tour School Qualifying at Dundonald Links in Scotland in a four day competition that was made all the more difficult with the challenging weather that delayed events - compressing the third and fourth rounds into the last day.
At the end of the week the casualty rate makes poor reading as only five players made it through from the Scottish venue.
The leading qualifier was Northern Ireland's Damien Mooney, who finished three shots behind the winner, Wallace Booth of Scotland, who carded a 69 in the fourth round to finish with an aggregate 287.
Michael Collins of FORE Ireland tied for fourth place after a 72 and an eight over par total of 296.
Gareth Shaw of Team Ireland made a strong recovery on the final day to sign for a round of 69 to finish 12 over par and a share of eighth place.
David Mortimer of FORE Ireland made it through in a tie for eighteenth place on 15 over par carding a final round 76 to join Barrie Trainor of Team Ireland, who finished with a 73.
The lengthier list of those who missed out and will not progress for at least another season includes Noel Fox; Peter O’Keeffe; Tim Rice; Noel Murray; Daniel Sugrue; Michael Lavelle; Gary David Cullen; Reeve Whitson; John G Kelly; Chris Hughes and James Monaghan.
Mark Staunton of FORE Ireland failed to join his team-mates in the top 22 after finishing with a final round 76.
2010 Race to Mount Juliet leader, David Higgins, saw a chance of a return to the European Tour slip by once more, albeit at a much earlier stage than last year, when he reached the Final Stage in Catalunya.
Having also won the Irish PGA Order of Merit in 2009 Higgins will return to the day job - at which he excels for the past few years – to play at Seapoint Golf Club in the 100th Irish PGA Championship next week.
Like his fellow seventeen professionals, who also failed to tame the elements at Dundonald this week, Higgins will travel home to Kerry knowing there was many a chance left behind in Scotland.
But such is the nature of Q School – a gruelling marathon – in which fortune must also play a major role.
Dundonald - Final Scores
