The first day of The European Tour Qualifying School saw eager pupils keen to put in their groundwork for one of the sternest examinations of their golfing careers as 696 golfers opened their bids to win one of the estimated 148 places available for Stage Two.
The first results of the opening days play came from the Golf-Und Land-Club Köln in Germany, where the top 29 players plus ties will go through to Stage Two. Andre Kruse of Germany fired a five under par 67 to lead by two shots from Denmark’s Peter Ankerso and Janne Martikainen of Finland – with nine players tied together on two under par.
At Moliets Golf Club in France, Inaki Alustiza of Spain fired a six under par 66 to lead his fellow countryman Vicente Blasquez and England’s David Ryles by one shot in the quest for the top 29 places on offer.
There are three venues holding Stage One competitions in England, St Annes Old Links, the De Vere Carden Park Golf Club and Chart Hills Golf Club.
At St Annes Old Links, where there are 28 places up for grabs at Stage Two, Ireland’s Leslie Walker and Englishman Oliver Whitely were the only players to complete their first rounds under par after a pair of one under 71s in some wild winds.
Over at Carden Park Golf Club, where there are 28 Stage Two spots up for grabs, it was the Englishman Bobby Young who set the early pace with a five under par 67 to lead by one from Ireland’s Michael Collins, while Canada’s Christopher Baryla takes a one shot lead from Englishman Simon Cooke at Chart Hills Golf Club, where the top 28 players plus ties will progress to the next Stage.
