Tense Finish To Stage One - 06/10/2007

STAGE ONE of the 2006 PGA EuroPro Tour Qualifying School produced 199 qualifiers for Final Stage, with a number of potential stars of the future emerging on day two.

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Four courses around England staged the First Stage, with between 49 and 51 players progressing from each venue.

All four events - at Bedford, Wynyard, Kendleshire and Stoke-by-Nayland - needed a play-off to decide the final qualifying spots.

At Bedford, eight players played for the final six automatic places, with strong winds on Thursday meaning that only Michael McGeady shot 70 for the second round.

First round leader James Ruebotham followed up his 65 with a 74 to take a two-shot win from Jason Dransfield, who also excelled in the windy conditions to finish on -3.

"The conditions were perfect for me," said the golfer from Royal Liverpool, which will host The Open this year.

"I'm used to strong winds and it was like playing on my home course."

A 68 on the second day from Andrew Cloke saw him take victory at The Kendleshire, with the Weybrook Park golfer following up his opening round 69 with a two-under-par score.

Simon Hurley and Sean Mason finished a shot further back, with three players taking part in a play-off for the final two spots in the 49 to move into Stage Two.

Four players shared the spoils at Wynyard, including local player Vince Guest from Teeside, who finished on -4 with scores of 69 and 71.

He was joined by Scottish trio Jamie McLeary, Graeme Brown and Eric Ramsey, with Neil Walker a shot further back.

Seven players took part in the play-off for the final two spots, with Ross Camerson and Chris Russell - the son of former professional David Russell - the two to progress.

At Stoke-by-Nayland in Essex, a superb final rounds from Paul McDonald - including a score of 30 for the back nine - seeing him share victory with Steve Surrey, who followed up a 73 with 67 on Thursday.

Five players competed in the play-off for four spots, with Duncan Elbury the unlucky player to miss out on an automatic spot in Stage Two.

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