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Hampshire’s Philip Golding was the only south east player to secure their full European Tour card in the Qualifying School Finals at Spain’s San Roque Club.
It was the Quindell man’s 17th trip to the Qualifying School – a Tour record – but Golding once again exhibited his determination to confirm his status in the sport’s elite circles. The 2003 French Open champion, now 45, secured his spot in the top 30 in Cadiz courtesy of three fantastically consistent sub-par rounds during the middle of the week’s play.
Golding, who was born in Bushey in Hertfordshire, banished memories of a poor opening 75 with a string of three consecutive three-under par 69s to move firmly in to contention. His cause was in no small part helped by a hole-in-one at the par three 16th during his fourth round courtesy of a miraculously judged four iron.
Although his title charge faltered with final rounds of 74 and 73, Golding had nonetheless done more than enough to earn his European Tour exemption for 2008. Another player with a wonder shot to thank for his place in the top 30 at The San Roque Club was Patrik Sjoland. The Swede was one stroke outside of those crucial qualifying positions as he reached the par five seventh, his second-to-last hole, only to sink his seven iron from 137 yards for an eagle. The 36-year-old, who won the 1998 Italian Open as well as the 2000 Irish Open and appeared in three golf World Cups, will now make a welcome return to the Tour after losing his card in 2005.
Sjöland said: “I played really well and probably the best I've played in a long, long time. I was surprised that it went in on the seventh but it gave me a shot to play with coming home. I have won twice on Tour and to do this is a big relief.”
Derby’s Stuart Davis provided the most heart-breaking tale of the final round of Q School. Sitting well inside the qualifying mark on five-under after 15 holes, he endured a calamitous bogey, bogey, triple-bogey finish to tumble out of the top 30.  |
