Grant and Owens Reach Stage 2

Photo : INPHO

German amateur Maximilian Kieffer won the European Tour First Qualifying Stage – Section C at Fleesensee Golf Club in Germany after carding a seven under par 65 in the final round. 

Kieffer, a member of the European Junior Ryder Cup team in 2006, won by three shots from Canada’s Matthew Bliss.

At the German venue 25 players qualified for Second Stage with 23rd place [and ties] the cut off mark. 

Stephen Grant finished the final round on Saturday with a 71 to complete the event in a level par total and aggregate 288 for a valuable 19th place.

Mervyn Owens is also in 19th place after a superb final round 68 propelled him up the leader board and inside the qualification mark. 

Sean Patrick Ryan however went the other direction - having been in contention for the previous three days - after a round of 75 on the final day saw him drop to a share of 44th place on a 4 over par total. 

Neil O’Briain signed for a level par round to finish on +6 in a tie for 54th place and out of the qualifying process. 

Play had been severely disrupted at Fleesensee during the wee because of heavy rain and the fourth round extended into Saturday after only starting on Friday afternoon. 

The Second Stage takes place over four courses in Spain – Costa Ballena Ocean Club, Arcos Gardens, Hacienda del Alamo and El Valle Golf Resort – from November 26th – 29th. 

The Final Stage at PGA Golf Catalunya Resort will take place in December, where 30 players plus ties will win a European Tour card for 2011.

Fleesensee Scoring

Scoring QS Stage 1 Section C - Fleesensee

School Unfinished at Fleesensee

The European Tour First Qualifying Stage – Section C at Fleesensee had to be completed on Saturday as bad weather earlier in the week disrupted play.

Canada’s Matthew Bliss was leading by one after three rounds, but was barely into his fourth round before play had to stop for bad light. The third round was not completed until Friday afternoon after heavy rain caused severe delays on Tuesday and Wednesday.

At Dundonald Links, Scotsman Wallace Booth won by one shot with a one under par total from the four rounds. Northern Ireland’s Damian Mooney was second at two over, and in total 17 players qualified for the Second Stage.

Strong winds disrupted timings earlier in the week at Dundonald Links but play was completed late on Friday after the fourth round began at 1410.

The Second Stage takes place over four courses in Spain – Costa Ballena Ocean Club, Arcos Gardens, Hacienda del Alamo and El Valle Golf Resort – from November 26 – 29 before the Final Stage at PGA Golf Catalunya Resort in December, where 30 players plus ties will win a European Tour card for 2011.

Only 5 Through Scottish School

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

Q School Stage 2 Section C Scotland

Grant Still In School Chase

The European Tour Qualifying School Stage 1 Section C at Fleesensee saw the completion of round three on Friday with Stephen Grant the only player within the automatic places for Stage – with the final round remaining.

Matthew Bliss of Canada continues to hold the lead after carding a level par round of 72 to remain on 9 under. Stephen Grant signed for a one under par 71 for a one over par total and a share of that vital 23rd place along with Sean Patrick Ryan who signed for a 73. 

Mervyn Owens carded a 73 and is 4 over in 47th place but within the cut mark for the fourth round. 

Neil O’Briain completed the third in 71 shots to finish 6 over par and also makes the final round. 

At each First Stage event will be contested over 72 holes of stroke play with 18 holes being played each day. After 54 holes only those players within 7 shots of the final qualifying place will go forward to contest the final round.

At Fleesensee it will be 23rd place [and ties] that qualify for Stage. 

Mooney Joint Leader After R3

Damian Mooney carded a three over par score in round three of the First Qualifying Stage – Section C at Dundonald Links on Friday to retain a share of the lead with Wallace Booth of Scotland who signed for a 74 - with both on a total score of 2 over par. 

Charlie Cossins of England is in third place on 6 after a round of 75. 

Jack Doherty of Scotland is in fourth place on 7 over. 

Michael Collins of FORE Ireland is one shot further back after a round of 78 to hold fifth place on 8 under. 

David Mortimer of FORE Ireland finished with a round of 75 to move to 11 over in a share of 10th place. 

Noel Murray carded a 75 moving up the leader board on 13 over along with Tim Rice - who signed for a 78. 

Barrie Trainor finished on 14 after a third round of 77 and is joined by Noel Fox [73]. 

Gareth Shaw carded level par for the day on a total of +15 along side Mark Staunton of FORE Ireland who finished with a 76. Both are in a share of 24th place and outside the cut off mark of 22nd place and ties. 

Peter O’Keeffe completed the third round in 81 shots to fall back to +17 in a tie for 35th place. 

Daniel Sugrue is one shot further back after a 75. 

David Higgins signed for a 76 and is eighteen over par. 

Michael Lavelle is +21 after a 79. 

Reeve Whitson is +23 following his round of 76. 

Fergal Rafferty is +24 after signing for 81. 

Chris Hughes is 28 over following a 76 and is joined by John G Kelly who signed for a round of 80. 

James Monaghan is +32. 

Gary David Cullen was a withdrawal. 

At Dundonald it will be 22nd place [and ties] that qualify for Stage 2 in November in Spain. 

The final round is currentlybeing played but will not be completed and so there will now be play on Saturday morning.

Round 3 Scoring:

Dundonald Links - Section C - Round 3

Round 2 QS Scores at Fleesensee

The European Tour Qualifying School Stage 1 Section C at Fleesensee saw the completion of round two on Thursday after all the weather disruption of the opening days.

Matthew Bliss of Canada broke away from the group of players he shared the lead after round one by carding a 67 to post the lead at 9 under. 

Max Glauert of Germany is three shots adrift of the leader on 6 under after a round of 70.

The leading Irish player remains Sean Patrick Ryan with a round of 71 to finish level par and tied 19th. 

Stephen Grant signed for a 72 for a two over par total. 

Mervyn Owens carded a 73 and is 3 over. 

Neil O’Briain completed the second in 76 shots to finish 7 over par. 

At Fleesensee it will be 23rd place [and ties] that qualify for Stage 2

Round Scores
Fleesensee Scores Round 2

Saturday Play Now Probable

A forecast improvement in the winds in Scotland should see the second round completed in the European Tour Qualifying School Section C at Dundonald Links on Thursday with play under way since 7:30. 

However it is now increasingly likely that play will run into part of Saturday – for the fourth round - in order to complete 72 holes as there is insufficient daylight to make up the lost 24 hours on Thursday and Friday. 

Only an increased number of withdrawals could alleviate the time sheet and perhaps allow for a fourth round on Friday afternoon. 

In the original schedule Thursday should have seen the completion of 54 holes with only those players within 7 shots of the final qualifying place going forward to contest the final round on Friday. 

A number of players in Dundonald were originally due to play in the Connemara Pro Am on the Irish PGA Region on Saturday and this may not be possible given the delays. 

Speaking after his round yesterday of 77 Michael Collins of FORE Ireland explained: 

“Anything under 80 was acceptable given the tough conditions today. The best score was two over and so the first round was all about getting around the course as safely as possible.” 

“Easy in conditions like these this to go into double figures which creates more pressure. So foive over is not too bad in those circumstances.” 

“The windy conditions are set to improve for the rest of the week somewhat and so we will just hope for the best.” 

Michael Collins was in an eight way share of 6th place in a group that includes Damien Mooney. The majority of the remaining Irish players are still in touch six or seven shots off the leader. 

Mark Staunton of FORE Ireland plays again today with the current leader, Wallace Booth from Scotland, who finished on Wednesday with a 74. 

Events are Fleesensee are ahead of Dundonald Links and it is expected that the event will be completed as planned – albeit not as early as originally planned on Friday. 

Four players currently share the lead on four under par 68 - Max Glauert of Germany, Jerome Theunis of Belgium, Ben Jones of England and Matthew Bliss of Canada. 

The leading Irish player is Sean Patrick Ryan carding a round of 73 to finish one over par in a share of 27th.

Pairings:

Section C - Round 2 Pairings

Round 2 Incomplete at Fleesensee

The weather was also disruptive at Fleesensee in Germany with round two suspended at 19.20hrs due to bad light with a restart scheduled at 8:00hrs on Thursday - after the heavy rain on day one and overnight had delayed proceedings.

When round one was finally completed, four players shared the lead on four under par 68.

Local favourite Max Glauert of Germany was among them, along with Jerome Theunis of Belgium, Ben Jones of England and Canadian Matthew Bliss.

The leading Irish player is currently Sean Patrick Ryan with a round of 73 to finish one over per and tied 27th.

Former Shamrock Rovers striker, Stephen Grant, was one shot further back the leader board on 2 over par and is joined by Mervyn Owens who also carded a 74.

Neil O’Briain signed for a round of 75 to finish 3 over par.

Round 1 Completed at Dundonald

The opening round of the First Qualifying Stage – Section C at Dundonald Links was finally completed on Wednesday after the weather delays of the first day with Wallace Booth of Scotland leading the way after signing for a 74. 

Booth, who turned professional during the 2009 Alfred Dunhill Championship, is making his first appearance since recovering from a shoulder injury that has limited his play this year and shot a two over par 74 in strong winds to lead by one from fellow Scot Chris Kelly and English Amateur Billy Hemstock. Birdies at the seventh and 11th helped take Booth into the lead. 

Play had been disrupted throughout the morning finally getting underway at midday when the wind had dropped from gusts of 40mph to a more manageable, 17 mph average, but still with gusts of 22mph. Birdies at the seventh and 11th helped take Booth into the lead. 

The best of the extensive Irish contingent after the opening round was Michael Collins of FORE Ireland carding five over par for a share of 6th place with Damien Mooney.

David Higgins, Noel Murray, Peter O’Keeffe, Tim Rice and Gareth Shaw all finished one shot adrift on 6 over par. 

David Mortimer and Mark Staunton of FORE Ireland ended the day 7 over par and are joined by Noel Fox, Michael Lavelle and Barrie Trainor. 

Gary David Cullen of Beaverstown joins Daniel Sugrue on 8 over. 

Fergal Rafferty is 9 under for eighteen holes. 

John G Kelly finished the first round on 11 over par along with Amateur Reeve Whitson. 

Chris Hughes was 17 over par and is joined by James Monaghan.