At European Tour School Final Qualifying last year Ireland had 6 representatives at the start of the six rounds at the PGA Catalunya in Girona after 10 players failed to progress to the season finale from Stage 2.
On the final day the Irish players battling it out included Niall Kearney, winner of the 2009 Brabazon Trophy and member of the 2009 Walker Cup team; Simon Thornton, a former Assistant Professional at Royal County Down; Gary Murphy, seeking to regain his card ten years after first securing playing rights; and John Kelly of the TItleist Performance Center.
In the end only Thornton and Murphy were amongst the final thirty finalists that gained cards for the 2010 season. This year there is only one candidate through as Colm Moriarty, Damian Mooney and Simon Thornton missed out on Wednesday.
At the outset of European Tour Qualifying School Stage 1 a total of eight venues played host this year with the first two qualifiers starting at The London Club in Kent and Ribegolf near Lisbon in Portugal.
At the London Club the Irish line up included Garrett Leahy, Niall Turner of Muskerry GC; Michael McGeady of McCambridge Duffy, Shane Franklin Athenry Golf club and Ian Davison from Groomsport Golf Centre.
Amateur Simon Ward was the sole Irish entry at Ribegolfe for this week’s other qualifying venue.
The second week of European Tour Qualifying School Stage 1 was hosted in Barbaroux Golf Club in France and Ebreichsdorf in Austria.
The players that took their place in France included Michael Mulryan Athenry Golf Club; Richard Kilpatrick, Banbridge Golf Club; Cian McNamara, Limerick GC; Byron Campbell, Malone Golf Club and Glen Robinson of St. Helen's Bay Golf Resort in Rosslare.
In Austria two Irish players competed, Justin Brink of Mieminger Plateau GC and Eamon Brady, of Clontarf Golf Club
In the third section of European Tour Qualifying School - Section C – moved to Dundonald Links in Scotland and Fleesensee in Germany with over twenty five Irish players chasing places at Stage 2 in November.
Former Shamrock Rover Rovers striker, Stephen Grant, was one of those seeking to make European Tour golf his new full time sporting career having left professional football behind in 2004.
Michael Collins, David Mortimer and Mark Staunton of FORE Ireland wire amongst those competing in four rounds of golf at Dundonald Links.
Gareth Shaw, a regular on the Challenge Tour, was also in the field as was former European Tour member and winner of the Lexus Race To Mount Juliet in association with PING, David Higgins of Waterville.
These players were joined by Noel Murray of Dunmurray GC; James Monaghan [AM] of The Island; Fergal Rafferty, Unattached; Chris Hughes, Castle GC; Peter O’Keeffe, Douglas GC; Gary David Cullen, Beaverstown; Michael Lavelle, K Club; Barrie Trainor, Team Ireland Golf; Tim Rice, Limerick; Damien Mooney, Unattached; Noel Fox, Portmarnock GC; John G Kelly, St Margaret’s Golf and Country Club; Reeve Whitson, Mourne GC and Chris Moriarty, Donaghdea.
Daniel Sugrue, who received a sponsor’s invite to the 3 Irish Open at Killarney Golf and Fishing Club, was also in the entry list.
The two final European Tour Qualifying School Stage 1 events were played at Wychwood Park in Crewe, in the United Kingdom and Circolo Golf Bogogno in Italy.
In Italy at Circolo Golf Bogogno there was one Irish entry, Ruaidhri McGee, who is based in Rhoda Golf near Murcia.
At DeVere Wychwood Park there was a larger group of ten Irish players registered to play which included; David Ruddy, Thurles; Cian Daly, Castletroy GC; Ross Oliver, Carrickfergus; John Price, Unattached; David Kernohan, Galgorm Castle; David Rawluk, The Island and Brendan McCaroll, Letterkenny GC / JFG Academie.
Also included are two players from the GUI’s 2010 National Panel, Cian Curley of Newlands GC and Dara Lernihan of Castle GC.
Paul O’Hanlon of The Curragh competed which followed his share of second place at the last EUROPRO Tour event of the season at Five Lakes.
This week all that effort comes down to the one last candidate still in the mix as Niall Kearney competes over two rounds for one of those top 30 spots.
On Friday we will know the result of his efforts.
