The three-stage European Tour Qualifying School comes to its conclusion this week, with 156 players remaining in the hunt for 25 European Tour cards. With play getting under way at Lumine Golf & Beach Resort from November 15-20, we take a look at five things you need to know ahead of the action-packed week.
Following in the footsteps of greatness
European Tour Qualifying School has produced a host of Major Champions, World Number Ones and Ryder Cup stars since the inaugural contest in 1976. Colin Montgomerie, Sandy Lyle, Justin Rose, Ian Poulter and Miguel Ángel Jiménez are just a few European greats to make it through ‘golf’s toughest test’ before going on to taste glory on the world stage.
This year’s Qualifying School has seen more competition than ever before, with a record 842 players participating in European Tour Qualifying School First Stage, all looking to follow in the footsteps of Europe’s biggest stars.
Making an entrance
Two qualifiers have certainly made their mark on the European Tour since earning their playing privileges at Final Stage 12 months ago. American Kurt Kitayama and Italian Guido Migliozzi have both secured two victories in their maiden campaign, with the former becoming the fastest player in history to earn two wins when he captured the Oman Open in just his 11th start on the 2019 Race to Dubai.
Kitayama currently sits just outside the Race to Dubai top ten, in 11th position, after back-to-back top three finishes at Rolex Series events over the past three weeks. Belgian Knockout and Magical Kenya Open presented by Absa champion Migliozzi, meanwhile, is on the precipice of breaking into the Official World Golf Ranking top 100.
Still standing
Only 80 players managed to navigate the trials of European Tour Qualifying School Second Stage to book their spot at Lumine, with Canadian Jimmy Jones, Norway’s Jarand Ekeland Arnoy, Blake Windred of Australia and Italy’s Aron Zemmer earning medalist honours at their four respective qualifying venues.
Bjarki Petursson, one of three Icelandic players in the field this week, was the only amateur who managed to keep his European Tour dreams alive after Second Stage, progressing from Club de Golf Bonmont in eighth position.
In addition to those who have successful made it through the opening two stages to earn their spot at Final Stage, the field is also made-up of European Challenge Tour members who finished between 16th and 45th on the 2019 Road to Mallorca and European Tour members ranked between 111th to 145th on the 2019 Race to Dubai.
Lumine Golf & Beach Resort
Lumine Golf & Beach Resort in Tarragona, Spain, will assume Final Stage hosting duties for the third time, with the golfers set to tackle both the The Lakes and The Hills Course over the duration of the six-round tournament.
The two courses serve up vastly different challenges, with the field tackling both layouts over the opening four days, before the top 70 and ties vie for the 25 European Tour cards up for grabs over the final two days at The Lakes Course.
Star attractions
Jamie Donaldson will headline the field for Final Stage following a challenging season which saw him finish 131st on the Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex. The Welshman, who claimed the winning point in Europe’s Ryder Cup victory at Gleneagles in 2014, has twice made the visit to Qualifying School, mostly recently in 2006.
He will be joined by several notable figures in European golf, including Bradley Dredge, Paul Dunne, Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño, Brett Rumford and Matteo Manassero, who will all need to outplay some of Europe’s best young talents if they are to seal their European Tour playing rights for 2020.
