Hopefuls Progress To Final Stage - 03/05/2007

BRENDAN McCARROLL won the Fulford leg of the 2007 PartyPoker.com Qualifying School, finishing at -6 in York.

McCarroll leads a 37-man field of players progressing from Fulford to next week's Final Stage of Qualifying School for the PGA EuroPro Tour, at Frilford Heath in Oxfordshire.

The Irishman followed up an opening round 66 with a level par 72 on Thursday, recovering from three early dropped shots with four birdies and a bogey at the 16th.

He finished two shots clear of Tom Maddison (67,73) and Paul Cormack (68,72), with a break then to Richard Gregory and amateur James Robinson (both 74,70) at level par.

Robinson was among eight amateurs to progress to Stage Two from Fulford, with Elliot Saltman one of three players to come through a six-way play-off.

Brian McElhinney was another two-shot victor, winning the Bedford leg of Qualifying School at -8, following up his opening 65 with a one-under-par 71 after hitting four birdies in his second round.

The former British Amateur Champion finished two shots clear of Tommy Hunter (70,68), with Daniel Brooks, Robert Watkins (both 68,71) and Spain's Pablo Ramirez (70,69) three shots back at -3.

The top 56 players from Bedford progressed, with eight players playing off for the final three places, which were taken by Philip Beever, Oliver Ross and Steven Ritchie.

Todd Nicholson, Lee Dormer and David Peters took the three alternate spots from Bedford.

At Beau Desert, Russell Smith was the only player to finish below par, following up Wednesday's 69 with a 70 to end at -1.

He was a shot clear of Warren Bladon (70,70), with Daniel Hewitt and Kevin Hale (both 71,71) two shots back.

In total, 43 players progressed into the Final Stage, with an 11-man play-off seeing John Cheetham, Harry Proos, Robert Harris and Mark Butler winning the final places.

Lloyd Kennedy held on to his first round lead to take victory at Stoke-by-Nayland in his home county of Essex, firing in a one-under-par 71 on Thursday to finish at -5.

Eleven players took part in a play-off for the final six places in the 49 who progress automatically to next week's Final Stage.

"We're delighted with how Stage One has gone," said PGA EuroPro Tour Managing Director Eddie Hearn.

"The standard of play has been fantastic and I'm sure we've seen some players who will go on to star this year.

"I'd like to thank The Bedford, Fulford, Stoke-by-Nayland and Beau Desert for the fantastic facilities and superb condition of their courses this week, which have helped make this such a successful start to the year."

The 187 players to come through the four Stage One venues will join the 55 players who were exempt to Final Stage in next week's event at Frilford Heath in Oxfordshire.