Although the European Tour Qualifying School Stage 2 event at Arcos Gardens was not completed on Monday the challenges of Team Ireland trio - Jonathan Caldwell, Michael McGeady and Gareth Shaw - had already faded over the weekend with all three well off the pace. The result is not surprising as all three had played limited schedules on the Challenge Tour in 2010 showing little form coming into the four days of Q School to suggest they would make the breakthrough this time.
With only the top twenty three finishers at each of the four venues earning passage to next week’s Final Stage the twelve Irish challengers facing a tough task this week.
At Costa Ballena Golf Resort Northern Ireland’s Damian Mooney continued the form he has shown all this season with a final round of 72 proving enough for a share of third place - on 7 under – and aggregate of 281 – guaranteeing passage to PGA Catalunya next month.
Mooney was three shots behind the winner, Eirik Tage Johansen of Norway, who signed for a 10 under par total after a 74 on Monday to post an aggregate 278.
In what turned out to be unseasonable - rainy, windy and cold temperatures - the 2009 Walker Cup player and winner of the 2009 Brabazon Trophy, Niall Kearney also made the cut after the Dubliner’s 75 left him in 11th place – benefiting from his round of 65 on Sunday.
Michael Collins of FORE Ireland signed for a round of 79 after struggling on the back nine and unable to do better than 46th place to finish on 5 over par on Monday – admitting afterwards that the icy temperatures made things very difficult.
Team mate David Mortimer, winner of the Glenmuir PGA Championship and Irish PGA Championship in recent months, ended an uncharacteristic four days with a final round 79 to finish on 13 over par.
At Hacienda del Alamo Martin Erlandsson of Sweden ended the four days with an aggregate 276 after a final day 68 set the pace at 12 under par overall .
Niall Turner of Muskerry ended his final day with a 70 to finish in 39th place on an aggregate 288 bringing to a close his second Q School campaign - having fallen short on the PGA Tour last month.
El Valle Golf Resort saw Raphael De Sousa of Switzerland hold his lead on the final day - signing for a 65 and aggregate 267 - to win the event by eight shots from Jens Danthorp of Sweden.
Barrie Trainor was best of the Irish challengers carding a round of 70 to finish 24th – and one place short of the automatic qualifiers. But in the subsequent play off for the fourth reserve spot the Warrenpoint professional also missed out – only adding to the disappointment.
Gary Murphy’s career in top class golf took a major setback when a final round 76 saw him slip back to 39th on 6 over par and ending Q School one stage earlier than last year – when he took one of the thirty spots alongside Simon Thornton.
Former Shamrock Rovers footballer, Stephen Grant, saw his dream of professional golf cut short when he finished 8 over par following a final round of 75.
Mervyn Owens of Mallow ended his campaign on 14 over par with a 78 on the last day.
At next week’s final stage Mooney and Kearney will be joined by Simon Thornton and Colm Moriarty - who both benefit from exemptions for the earlier rounds.
The final stage will be played on December 4th - 9th.
