Just a week after making it through the marathon six-round contest of DP World Tour Qualifying School Final Stage, many are making their first start of the 2024 season in either South Africa or Australia. For three of those players - Josh Berry, Jonathan Gøth-Rasmussen and Sam Jones - it will be a first ever professional start on the DP World Tour.
Josh Berry
A week after earning his card as an amateur at Final Stage of DP World Tour Qualifying School, Josh Berry will make his first professional start on the DP World Tour at the Joburg Open.
The English teenager, who recently turned 18, was one of several amateurs in the field but the only one to secure their playing rights for the 2024 season. In the top ten after four rounds, Berry seemed to be unintimidated by the pressure as he carded rounds of 67, 68, 70, 67, 71, and 70 to secure promotion, eventually finishing tied 17th to secure one of the 33 cards awarded at this year's Final Stage.
Berry, whose amateur career is highlighted by victory in the 2021 Yorkshire Amateur Championship, was ranked 560th in the World Golf Amateur Rankings but proved he could consistently hold court at the highest level after coming through all three stages of Qualifying School competition.
He will now make his debut as a professional this week, just three months after teeing up as an amateur in his first DP World Tour event at the D+D REAL Czech Masters.
"I'm absolutely speechless to be honest, but I can't wait to get going," he said after making it through.
"My expectations were really low. I knew I was playing well but it's such a long week, six rounds of golf, and then coming through all three stages. Just so much golf.
"I've been playing amateur golf all year long, and I knew in the back of my mind I had Q School at the end of the year. Then I entered it, and I knew it was a lot of money but I believed in myself, and came with a good attitude and played well."
Jonathan Gøth-Rasmussen
The Danish player, who is the son of former DP World Tour player Jacob Rasmussen and played in the 2016 Junior Ryder Cup, will make his own DP World Tour this week after finishing in a tie for 22nd at Final Stage to secure his card.
Since turning professional, the 25 year old has played in events on both the ECCO Tour and the Nordic Golf League, securing his victory on the Nordic Golf League in Sweden this year at The No.1 Tour Final in Golf.
He finished tied 17th in First Stage, tied 10th in Second Stage, and continued that momentum with an opening five rounds of 69, 65, 68 and 69 to comfortably make the cut and sit in a brilliant position heading into the final day. During the sixth round he struggled to a three over par, but went birdie-par-par to finish his week and make his card on the number.
What it means 👊
— DP World Tour Q-School (@DPWTQSchool) November 15, 2023
Jonathan Goth-Rasmussen holds his nerve to finish inside the top 25.#DPWTQSchool pic.twitter.com/c9MK6tXFUD
Sam Jones
The 27-year-old New Zealander, who is playing in the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship this week, had only just turned professional before earning his DP World Tour Card at Q School.
Having spent the majority of the year playing amateur events, Jones entered the First Stage of Qualifying School and made it on the number with a final round 65 to make it through to Second Stage.
Jones, who competed in the Eisenhower Trophy for New Zealand earlier this year and in the Asia Pacific Amateur two weeks prior to Final Stage, then finished tied fourth in Second Stage before going on to finish tied sixth at INFINITUM with rounds of 68, 69, 70, 65, 68 and 66.
He now arrives ready to tee it up in Australia with just four professional tournament experiences to his name, but the left-hander will be hoping to build on his impressive performance in Spain this week as he gets his first season on the DP World Tour under way.
