Robert Moran will play on the Alps Tour as a professional next year after securing his card on the satellite tour at the Final Stage of Qualifying School.
The Irish Close champion was in position to earn status after successive rounds of 69 before a final round of 71 helped him maintain his position in third on six-under-par, four shots behind eventual winner Giovanni Manzoni at Golf Nazionale.
It means the Castle man secures Category 6 on the Alps Tour for next season and he has confirmed that he will ply his trade as a professional in 2024.
“I’m turning pro next year so that’s good and it’s nice to have a category on a tour and it’s a pretty decent place to start,” explained Moran who has enjoyed a successful amateur career, winning an Irish Close and an Ulster Strokeplay as well as enjoying Home Internationals success with Ireland.
The Alps Tour has proven a fruitful hunting ground for aspiring Irish professionals with Ronan Mullarney winning the 2023 Order of Merit while Gary Hurley and Conor Purcell earned Challenge Tour cards via the tour last year.
“The tour has been pretty good to Irish lads in the last couple of years looking at the success of Ronan and Gary so it’s good to see other Irish lads have been doing well so it’s not the worst way to finish the year,” Moran continued.
“Yeah I am pretty happy, it’s a nice way to finish the year I put in three pretty steady, boring rounds of golf which is what is needed in this scenario so it’s nice to get through and see what next year brings.”
Also joining Moran with Category 6 status is Portmarnock amateur Brandon St John who qualified in the 35th and final place on four-over-par after a final round of 75.
Marc Boucher and Alex Maguire secured Category 8 status.
Boucher (Carton House) finished T40 on plus five with St Andrews Links Trophy winner Maguire (Laytown & Bettystown) six shots further back.
Scoring HERE
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