Paul Grannell [Courtesy EURO Pro Tour]
Paul Grannell won the final stage of PGA EuroPro Tour Qualifying School at Frilford Heath in Oxfordshire by one shot thanks to a late birdie burst.
Grannell (Vale Royal Abbey) was three shots behind overnight leader Max Brackley going into Friday’s final round but as the pacesetter struggled with a two-over par 73, Grannell swooped at the death with back-to-back birdies on 17 and 18 to edge out Brackley, Adam Hodkinson and amateur Tyrell Hatton by one shot at eight under.
Grannell’s victory was all the more impressive as he endured a tough start with bogeys on two and three, but he restored parity by the turn with birdies at the fourth and eighth holes, and moved to one under for the round, six under for the tournament, with another birdie at 11 before picking up the shots at the final two holes that saw him pocket £2,400 as the winner, with rounds of 69, 70 and 68.
Hatton’s hopes of following last year’s amateur winner of the final stage of Q School, James Watts, seemed to have disappeared at the second with a double bogey six but he managed to recover to card a level par 71 for a share of second spot. Hodkinson’s two-under par 69 helped him to runners-up place, level through the front nine with two birdies answering two bogeys before he picked up shots at 12 and 14.
The trio in second spot edged out a trio in tied fifth position by one stroke, with Toby Burden carding a three-under par 68 with five birdies to move to six under for the tournament. Joining Burden in that trio are Adam Keogh and Cian Curley who shot rounds of 69 and 70 respectively.
Liam Harper was one of five players to fire a four-under par 67 on the final day and his round was enough to move him into a six-way tie for eighth spot with Benjamin Martin, Adam Runcie, Chris Hanson, Nick James and Warren Bennett.
The first event on the PGA EuroPro Tour is the YourGolfTravel.com European Championship at Wensum Valley in Norfolk on May 3rd - 5th.
Peter O'Keeffe signed for a final round 67 to move up to share of 20th place.
John Kelly was 30th after a final day of 69 to end the tournament one under par.
Michael Lavelle ended T36.
Jonathon Mallon was further adrift in 117th place after a 75 on the third and final day.
