that is the European Tour’s final stage of qualifying tomorrow.
But this year, the PGA Catalunya Resort near Barcelona won’t have a
Welsh presence as no players from the principality that set out to
reach the six-round marathon made it through.
Garry Houston, Sion Bebb, Stuart Manley, Matt Dearden and Mark Laskey
all fell at the penultimate hurdle as did Liam Bond, who only gained a
tour card for the first time in 16 attempts last year, while nine men
exited at the first stage of qualifying.
Not only that but Stephen Dodd, whose victory in the 2006 European Open
gave him a five-year exemption on the tour, will not be trying to
qualify this time leaving Rhys Davies, Bradley Dredge, Jamie Donaldson
and Phillip Price as the four Welsh golfers on the tour next year.
Some might look at the drop in Wales’ permanent tour members for 2012
from six to four as a concern. Not only that but recent years have been
lean for the majority of Welsh professionals, only Davies has really
shone brightly in the last 36 months.
But there is light on the horizon for men’s golf in Wales, particularly
with the standard of play among the country’s youngsters like Rhys
Pugh, who was part of the triumphant Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Walker Cup team this year.
Pugh, who also won the Irish Amateur Open, was the second lowest ranked
player in Nigel Edwards’ 10-man squad but despite being just 17 years
old the Vale of Glamorgan star secured three points out of a possible
three as the Americans were sent packing in Aberdeen.
Give him a few more years and Pugh could well be one of the next big
things in British golf.
For now, though, it seems funny not to see any Welshmen taking on the
Catalunya course, especially as the other home nations are well
represented - England has 38 entrants, Scotland nine and Northern
Ireland two.
In all, 156 competitors will be fighting it out for the 30 tour cards
up for grabs over the next six days with the field being cut to 70,
plus ties, after the fourth round when 36 holes on the resort’s Stadium
Course will determine the final outcome.
“I think the more golf that you play, the more the cream should rise to
the top effectively,” said European Tour Qualifying School director
Mike Stewart. “It became established as a six round event many years
ago and that was felt to be a better test than four rounds, and it’s
been maintained ever since.
“At the end of the day, if you manage to finish in the top 30 over the
six days then you have done very well to do so and you will find the
top players on the week should make it to the top of the pile.”
By David Williams
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