How time flies – it does not seem that long ago that we were celebrating with our 15 smiling graduates in Muscat last November after they had secured their European Tour cards, yet it is only a matter of weeks until we will be back in Oman for the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final.
So how have our Class of 2015 fared since we sent them on their way at Almouj Golf? We take a look back on their seasons so far in the 2016 Race to Dubai.
Stone keeps on rolling
Brandon Stone only confirmed his place on the European Tour with a final round of 68 at the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final to take sixth place and finish 14thin the Road to Oman Rankings.
The South African was quick to take advantage of his newfound status in the Race to Dubai, winning just his second event of the 2016 season, the BMW SA Open hosted by City of Ekurhuleni, in January.
A runner-up finish in the Shenzhen International, plus top tens at the Tshwane Open, AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, 100thOpen de France and most recently in last week’s KLM Open, have pushed the 23 year old to 30thplace in the Race to Dubai, the highest of last year’s graduates.
Nacho feels the crunch
Nacho Elvira was in a hurry to secure his return to the European Tour last year, winning three times before the end of August to earn immediate promotion.
The Spaniard will feel he could have added a maiden European Tour title this year at the Trophée Hassan II, where he was the unfortunate recipient of three successive hammer blows from Jeunghun Wang’s putter.
The Korean holed a monster birdie putt on the last hole to tie Elvira and force a play-off before similar long efforts on the first two additional holes secured Wang a maiden victory.
At 29, Elvira secured further top ten finishes at the Shenzhen International and the Aberdeen Asset Management Paul Lawrie Match Play to sit 68thin the Race to Dubai.
Gouveia grinding away
After breaking Challenge Tour records last season, Rankings Winner Ricardo Gouveia probably started European Tour life with higher expectations than were realistic, but this year has been far from a disappointment.
The Portuguese playmaker looks set to retain his European Tour card, with top ten finishes in the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters and Made In Denmark, complemented by a further three top 20 results, taking the 25 year old to 84thplace in the Race to Dubai.
Also within the top 110 – and therefore set to keep their European Tour status for next season – are Callum Shinkwin in 71stplace and Sebastien Gros, who currently sits in 87th.
