Paul McBride, Conor O’Rourke and Jonathan Yates are all moving on to the Second Stage of Qualifying School for the DP World Tour after finishing inside the cut mark at First Stage in Italy.
The trio were all inside the top-21 and ties after the four rounds at Bogogno Golf Resort, which earns them a spot in the next round in their bid to earn their cards for the 2023 season.
McBride in particular will take plenty from the week as he finished tied for seventh after four rounds in the 60s, a three-under 69 in his final round seeing him end the week at 15-under-par.
The 26-year-old was in with a chance of winning the event outright after a run of six birdies in the final seven holes of his front nine, and he added another at the 13th, but a double-bogey at the 16th and then a closing bogey dropped him back.
In the end he was five shots back of joint-winners Dan Erickson, Lars Keunen and Davey Porsius who all finished at 20-under-par, the trio sharing the win since there is no play-off.
A fine four-under 68 featuring two eagles, four birdies and four bogeys ensured O’Rourke would also be progressing in 10th place at 14-under-par, joining his fellow countryman in the Second Stage.
Meanwhile, seven birdies around a bogey and a double-bogey in a 68 of his own got Naas man Yates inside the cut line by one shot, finishing at 12-under-par with the cut off falling at 11-under.
Italy’s Filippo Celli was the only noteworthy player to be involved at First Stage Qualifying and the Silver Medal winner got the job done, finishing solo fifth at 18-under-par to advance to the next round.
However, it is back to the drawing board for Rowan Lester as he couldn’t make a fourth round surge to get inside the top-21, four birdies and three bogeys leading to a one-under 71 to finish the week five-under-par.
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