Simon Bryan and James Sugrue will both have full playing rights on next season’s Alps Tour after finishing in the top-35 at the Final Stage of Q-School in Italy.
Bryan finished in a share of fifth at five-under after a one-under 71 in his final round at Golf Nazionale, while Sugrue closed with a 74 and just squeezed in inside the cut mark at level-par in a tie for 27th.
However, there was disappointment for Michael Young and Luke Donnelly, who both finished outside the top-35 and missed out on full Alps Tour status, but have at least earned conditional Category 8 membership which will earn them limited starts next season.
Bryan was impressive in closing out his place in the top-35, giving himself a comfortable buffer with three birdies and one bogey on his front nine, which meant that when he dropped back-to-back shots at 15 and 16 there was no panic, and a bogey on the 17th saw him earn his place in style.
Meanwhile, Sugrue will likely aim to split his time next season between invites on the Challenge Tour and Alps Tour after earning his card for next year as well.
The former Amateur champion had a nervy wait after finishing with a bogey and double-bogey in his closing two holes to drop him back to one shot above the cut mark, but fortunately level-par proved to be enough to get in.
Prior to that the 24-year-old Mallow man had parred every hole on the front nine before finally getting on the birdie train at the 10th and 16th, however his rocky finish left Sugrue watching on with interest in the closing stages.
However, it wasn’t such good news for Young and Donnelly, who both started the day outside the top-35 and unfortunately couldn’t find rounds good enough to work their way inside for the first time in the week.
Kerry’s Young came closest, and will rue a double-bogey on the 14th as he finished two shots off the one-over cut mark after a 73 following a round that also featured three birdies and two bogeys.
Donnelly, meanwhile, was always up against it after he triple-bogeyed the opening hole and, although the Kilkenny man played the rest of his round in level-par – consisting of three birdies and three bogeys – he finished five shots adrift at six-over.
French amateur Martin Couvra finished top of the leaderboard, his 71 taking him to 10-under, two shots clear of fellow French amateur Julien Sale and England’s Ben Schmidt.
- Full scoring HERE
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