Gaunt and Jamieson join elite

Europro Tour Gaunt and Jamieson join the golfing elite

McCarroll Loses Out in Cyprus

James Heath won the biggest event in the 2010 PGA EuroPro Tour season after triumphing in a dramatic three-way play-off. 

After three rounds of the Marfin Popular Bank EuroPro Tour Championship, Heath, Kevin Harper and Lawrence Dodd were all tied on seven-under. However, Heath won the play-off at Aphrodite Hills Golf in Paphos, Cyprus to collect the €20,000 winner’s prize and also advance to next season’s Challenge Tour.

Scotland’s Craig Lee made a late surge to finish in tied fourth after being well down the leader board on the opening day. He shot a first round total of seven-over 77, followed that with a five-under 65 on Friday and produced a sensational round of eight-under 62 on Saturday.

Lee was joined in fourth place by Matt Allen and George Woolgar, who also finished on six-under for the tournament.

Gareth Shaw of Team Ireland came seventh on five-under, while Robert Steele, Gareth Davies and Scott Henry shared eighth place.

Brendan McCarroll of JFG Academie had a two-shot lead going into the final day but a final day round of five-over par ended his hopes and saw him finish in tied 11th and is joined by Tim Rice of Limerick who signed for a round of 66.

This was the final event of the season and critical as this would decide who qualified for next season’s Challenge Tour and be only one step away from joining the golfing elite on the Challenge Tour.

In previous seasons, the players who finished the campaign in the top five on the EuroPro Tour Order of Merit advanced to the Challenge Tour.

However, seven players from the 2010 EuroPro Tour will move up to the Challenge Tour. Daniel Gaunt (winner of a Challenge Tour event earlier in the year) and Craig Lee (guaranteed a place in the top 80 of the Challenge Tour money list) had already secured their spots at the higher level.

As they both finished inside the top five on the EuroPro Tour Order of Merit, that meant the men finished sixth and seventh have also advanced.

So the seven players advancing to next season’s Challenge Tour are Daniel Gaunt, Matthew Evans, James Hepworth, James Heath, Craig Lee, Nick McCarthy and Ian Keenan.

Noel Fox finished in a tie for 23rd place after a round of 71 and level par total.

Neil O’Briain finished one over after a round of 69 along with Michael Collins of FORE Ireland who also signed for a 69.

Brian McElhinney signed for a 75 to finish +8.

Paul O’Hanlon of the Curragh carded a two under par round of 68 to move up +8 overall.

EURO Pro Tour Championship

Final Results

McCarroll Leads Day 2 in Cyprus

Brendan McCarroll of JFG Academie carded a second round 63 to take the outright lead Marfin Popular Bank Europro Tour Championship on Friday at Aphrodite Hills in Cyprus to lead the event by two shots from George Woolgar of England.

Scott Henry of Scotland is in third place on 5 under. 

Gareth Shaw of Team Ireland carded a round of 67 to finish 2 under. 

Noel Fox is one under par after a round of 71. 

Neil O’Briain is 2 over after signing for a 69. 

Michael Collins of FORE Ireland finished day two with a round of 68 for a three over par total along with Brian McElhinney who carded a 74. 

Paul O’Hanlon of the Curragh ended day two with a 73 for a ten over par total.



Mick Collins reflects on day two:
"Today was really what I was looking for yesterday, i.e. a nice steady start followed by a few birdies. 2 under was about as bad as it could have been today as I played really well without holing anything of any significance."

"My birdies were from 4 inches, 6 inches and 8 feet with the only drop coming from a plugged ball in the front bunker on 17. I haven’t holed any putts for 2 weeks so I have a feeling they are all going to come tomorrow."

"

"The climate over here is superb and the more I play this golf course the more I like it. You pick up new views every day playing around this interesting design. The resort is pretty impressive also with all the different restaurants and the sea just across from the front gate."

"It will be even better if I can get this ball rolling early tomorrow morning and get myself under par for the tournament. "

Collins Battles Snakes and Heat

Noel Fox of Portmarnock is the leading Irish player after round one of the Marfin Popular Bank Europro Tour Championship on Thursday at Aphrodite Hills in Cyprus with a round of 68 to hold a three way share of fifth place.

Fox trails the three joint leaders - Nicky Harris, Jeremy Kavanagh and James Hepworth of England - by two shots after they carded rounds of 66 to set the pace at 4 under – one shot ahead of fellow Englishman Daniel Perret in third place. 

Brian McElhinney of Team Ireland is one under after a round of 69 and is joined by Brendan McCarroll of JFG Academie.

Gareth Shaw of Team Ireland cared a 71 for a round of one over par.

Tim Rice signed for a round of 73 to finish day one on 3 over par along with Neil O’Briain.

Michael Collins of FORE Ireland finished the day with a 75 to remain +5.

Paul O’Hanlon of the Curragh ended the first day 7 over after an opening round of 77.

Mick Collins explained afterwards;

"Today was the first round of the Tour Championship at the stunning Aphrodite hills in Cyprus."

"A 5 over 75 was not part of the plan but after my 2^nd hole (11^th) it was always going to be an uphill battle. A pulled tee shot headed into the bushes left of the fairway. My efforts to find the ball were made more difficult than normal as the bushes are quite dense."

"There is also the small factor of these bushes being the main hang out areas for the local snakes!! 


"I did have a look but I refrained from shoving my head in too far. The result was a lost ball and a treble bogey 7."


"I played ok from there but struggled to hole anything on these tricky greens. However, tomorrow is a new day and I just have to be as positive as I can and get off to a quick start and go from there."

"I was happy enough with the way I dealt with the heat today. It's not called Aphrodite Hills for no reason and in the pro am yesterday we were in buggies. Today we were walking and in 35 degrees of heat and no wind until the last few holes, it was scorchio!"

"The good news from the locals is that it is going to get even hotter over the next few days so staying hydrated is going to be the key to getting the job done."

EURO Pro Tour Championship

The end of season finale of the 2010 PGA EuroPro Tour season takes place this week with the Tour Championships Aphrodite Hills in Paphos, Cyprus featuring the 60 best performers from the regular campaign in a tournament over three rounds. 

The final offers the biggest prize fund of the season with £16,670 on offer to the winner.

Michael Collins of FORE Ireland is amongst a group of Irish players and joins Brendan McCarroll, Brian McElhinney of Team Ireland, Neil O’Briain, Paul O’Hanlon, Tim Rice and Gareth Shaw of Team Ireland. 

More importantly at the end of the tournament the Order of Merit will be finalised and the top performers will advance to the Challenge Tour which is one step away from the European Tour. 

Paul O’Hanlon is the highest ranked Irish player in 21st place the result of his share of second place at the last event of the regular season - the Brooks Bros Classic at Five Lakes.

Brendan McCarroll is the next best in 24th with Rice 27th, McElhinney 28th and Collins in 33rd place. Challenge Tour regular Gareth Shaw is in 40th place and two places ahead of O’Briain. 

EuroPro Tour member Daniel Gaunt has already secured a Challenge Tour card after he won one of their events earlier in the year. As Craig Lee is also already guaranteed a place on next year's Challenge Tour which means the men finishing sixth and seventh will also advance to the higher level. 

With Matthew Evans and James Hepworth both on more than £23,000, they seem likely to take two of the spots meaning three places are still up for grabs. 

Nick McCarthy and Ian Keenan are currently fourth and sixth on the money list respectively but they are closely followed by James Busby in seventh, Paul Maddy eighth, Gary Wolstenholme in ninth and Zane Scotland in 10th place. 

Aphrodite Hills was the first ever leisure and golf development of its kind in Cyprus and the 18-hole championship golf course is over 6,299 meters in length and overlooks the site where Aphrodite, the goddess of love, is said to have emerged from the sea. 

The EURO Pro Tour Championship takes place between September 30th - October 2nd 2010.