Roope On Top After Day One of Q School Final - 02/05/2007

SURREY'S Colin Roope produced a superb performance to end day one of the Final Round of Qualifying School on top of the leaderboard.

Roope (pictured right), who has represented his county and finished top of the 2006 Surrey Order Of Merit, hit a -6 score of 67 on the Red Course at Frilford Heath, Oxfordshire.

His round included an eagle at the 487-yard par-five sixth, while he also gained birdies at five other holes with his only blemish being a bogey at the par-three ninth.

He was among 240 competitors who were hoping to secure their places on the PGA EuroPro Tour, ahead of the main season that starts on May 1. There was a great deal at stake as the top 70 players would compete alongside those players that have already secured spots on the PGA EuroPro Tour.

However, those ranked outside the leading 70 could still qualify, but would have to hope other players withdrew from the competition to get their chance. Each of the 240 players will play a round on both the Frilford Heath red and blue courses to determine their total score with the best 120 performers and ties taking part in the final round on Thursday.

Roope sits two shots ahead of four players with Richard Beadles (Cambridgeshire), James Busby (Shropshire), Jeremy Martin (Buckinghamshire) and Tim Rice (Limerick, Ireland) all on -4.

Half of the field competed on the red course with the other half playing on the blue course. However, the blue course proved to be the more difficult as the leading total was only -2, a score registered by Scotland's Chris Campbell and Spain's Ismael Castillo.

Date posted: April 18, 2007