Host of members move up the golfing ladder - 17/02/2007

THREE more players from the PGA EuroPro Tour have advanced to the next level in golf after performing well at the final round of the European Tour Qualifying School.

Matthew Cort, James Morrison and Lawrence Dodd, who were regulars on the 2007 EuroPro Tour, all finished in the top 70 to claim Challenge Tour cards for 2008.

They join Graeme Clark, Andrew Willey, Neil Walker, Colm Moriarty, Matthew Woods and Daniel Wardrop, who had already gained their cards thanks to high positions in the EPT Order of Merit.

It nearly became even better for Cort (pictured right) as he finished one shot from the top 30 at Q School, an achievement that would have taken him to join golf's elite on the main European Tour.

A final day's score of 74 proved costly as he finished 33rd out of 156 competitors at the six-round event at the San Roque Club in Sotogrande, Cadiz, Spain, which featured golfers from across Europe.

But at least Cort had guaranteed himself a 2008 Challenge Tour card after he had originally missed out when he came seventh in the EPT Order of Merit, one place away from qualifying.

This completes a good season for Cort, who had also finished twice in two tour events - at Stoke-by-Nayland, Essex in June and at the end-of-campaign Tour Championships at St Andrews, Scotland.

Morrison and Dodd had come 35th and 45th respectively in the tour rankings but good performances in Spain have taken them both a step closer to playing on the European Tour.

Dodd's case can be used as perfect motivation for any young golfer wanting a career in the sport.

He turned professional in September 2006 and only reached the EuroPro Tour after performing well at two rounds of Qualifying School in April. But he played in as many events as he could do, constantly learning and gaining more valuable experience.

Now his hard work has paid off and a successful 2008 could see him fulfilling his dream of playing at the highest level.

Elsewhere, Lee Slattery and David Dixon, both former PGA EuroPro Tour members, will be playing European Tour golf in 2008 after finishing third and 19th respectively, while John Morgan and Eric Ramsay are back on the Challenge Tour.

It is a quick return to the top for Slattery, a European Tour player in 2007, who had only originally narrowly missed out on qualification by £50.

Date posted: November 27, 2007.