Clarke to the four at Q School final - 07/04/2010

EARLY REPORT - GROUPS STILL TO COMPLETE, PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK AT THE BOTTOM TO CHECK THE SCORES

Lee Clarke is the early leader at the final stage of the 2010 PGA EuroPro Tour Qualifying School at Frilford Heath, thanks to an opening round of 69 that gives him a two-shot lead at four under par.

Clarke (Everbuild Building Products - pictured) began his round on the back nine of the red course with a bogey at the tenth, but back-to-back birdies from 16 to move through his front-nine one under. Three further birdies came at the first, third and sixth holes to see Clarke card a four-under round of 69.

Three birdies in his last three holes of the red course made the difference for Matthew Maguire as he sits one stroke behind Clarke. Maguire (Dave Gordon Golf) was level after cancelling out birdies at six and 15 with bogeys at seven and 11 before his birdie run to the clubhouse saw him post a first round score of 70.

James Heath began with a level par back nine of the blue course, blighting his card with a bogey at the first but then recovering with birdies at the second, sixth and eighth to shoot 69 and sit in a group at two-under. Aran Wainwright (Mid Yorkshire), Scott Bubb (WPGC) Rhys Black (Sherwood Forest GC) and Ross Cameron (Saltire Energy) also carded rounds of 69 on the blue course to sit at two-under, while Mark Thomas (Hillsborough GC) eagled the 12th in his 71 on the blue course to join them.

Players who began on the red course play the blue course on the second day and vice-versa, with the top 120 players plus ties tackling the blue course in Friday's final round. The final stage of Q School holds a £16,000 prize purse, with the winner also taking home a car for six months thanks to Mercedes-Benz - the official car of the EuroPro Tour.

The complete first round scores from both red and blue courses at Frilford Heath can be viewed here.

Date Posted: 7/04/10