Elements draw curtain on play in Austria

Heavy rain and a waterlogged course put paid to any hope of playing the final round of the First Qualifying Stage Section A at Golfclub Schloss Ebreichsdorf, and with little chance of the weather letting up, the tournament has been shortened to 54 holes.

The implications of this are that 26 players proceed to the second stage of affairs in Spain with overnight leaders, Chilean Nico Geyger and Dane Anders Schmidt Hansen, technically winning the tournament on 12 under par.

Tournament Director, Jose Maria Zamora said: “After a full course inspection, with no major improvements on the current conditions, several forecasts received for tomorrow and consultation with the golf club, it has been decided with the Qualifying School Director that there is no chance to play golf tomorrow and therefore the tournament will be reduced to 54 holes.”

Next week the First Qualifying Stage continues with Section B being played at both Frilford Heath Blue, in England and Fleesensee Golf and Country Club, in Germany, with even more hopefuls looking to follow in the footsteps of this week’s talent and progress through to stage two and beyond, with those elusive European Tour cards set to be handed out at PGA Catalunya Resort come November 20.