The Second Stage is set for Q School

A month has passed since 191 players progressed through the First Stage of the European Tour Qualifying School, and the Second Stage is now imminent as Friday November 7 looms on the horizon as the most important date in the remaining hopefuls’ golfing calendars.

After battling through their respective fields at one of the eight events that made up the initial qualifying process, the 191 qualifiers, together with those players who were exempt from the First Stage, will now fight it out over one of the four superb Spanish venues that will host the Second Stage.

The spectacle will take place over the same weekend this time around, with the prize at stake a place in the field for the Final Stage – which returns to European Tour Destination, PGA Catalunya Resort.

The ultimate prize of a European Tour card will be up for grabs during the six round finale, held on the resort’s Stadium and Tour Courses, but first the hopefuls must battle their way into the Final by advancing from the Second Stage.

Joining the 191 First Stage alumni will be a selection of Challenge Tour players who missed out on qualification for the season-ending Dubai Festival City Challenge Tour Grand Final, plus European Tour members who sit 145th and higher in The Race to Dubai.

Additionally, a selection of previous Qualifying School winners, Challenge Tour Rankings winners and players who have won on The European Tour pre-2005 were allowed to bypass the First Stage. There are currently 102 of these exempt players making up the Second Stage field.

The Second Stage will be played over four courses perched along the Mediterranean coast, with three of them continuing their hosting duties from last year’s Second Stage. They provide a fitting warm-up for the Final Stage, which is just a short drive along the coast to the north east of Barcelona.

Second Stage venue Las Colinas Golf & Country Club has been part of the Qualifying School since 2011, while both Campo de Golf El Saler and the luxurious Lumine Golf & Beach Club have each held an event over the last two Qualifying seasons.

The beautiful estate of Panoramica Golf & Sport Resort, located equidistant between Barcelona and Valencia, is the newest addition to the Second Stage roster and, as one of Spain’s best courses, it should prove a welcome addition.

Amongst those hoping to progress are all the winners from the First Stage:

<ul>
<li>         Dane Anders Schmidt Hansen – Joint Winner Section A, Golfclub Schloss Ebreichsdorf, Austria*</li>
<li>         Chilean Nico Geyger – Joint Winner Section A, Golfclub Schloss Ebreichsdorf, Austria*</li>
<li>         Scot Neil Fenwick – Winner Section A, The Roxburghe Hotel & Golf Course, Scotland</li>
<li>         Englishmen Daniel Gavins –  Joint Winner Section B, Frilford Heath Blue, England</li>
<li>         Englishmen Greg Payne –  Joint Winner Section B, Frilford Heath Blue, England</li>
<li>         Frenchmen Damien Perrier – Joint Winner Section B, Fleesensee G&CC, Germany</li>
<li>         Czech Filip Mruzek- Joint Winner Section B, Fleesensee G&CC, Germany</li>
<li>         Dane Martin Ovesen – Winner Section C, Golf d’Hardelot, France</li>
<li>         Italian Joon Kim – Winner Section C, Bogogno, Italy</li>
<li>         Spaniard Alfredo Garcia-Heredia – Winner Section D, Ribagolfe, Portugal</li>
<li>         Welshman Mark Laskey – Winner Section D, Frilford Heath Red, England</li>
</ul>

*reduced to 54 holes after severe weather delays

The number of qualifying spots available to the Final Stage will be announced once the Challenge Tour Grand Final has concluded and the Challenge Tour rankings are finalised for the season (around mid-day Saturday).

Players who are tied on the qualifying mark after the final round has been completed will be required to participate in a play-off to determine who qualifies for the Final Stage.

For these aspiring European Tour card holders, the Second Stage represents a crucial stepping stone on a passage to fulfil their golfing ambition, as four rounds separate them from bringing that dream closer to reality.