GOLF: Michael Hoey was disappointed after a 75 in yesterday's final round of the second stage European Tour Qualifying school at PGA De Catalunya, but a third place tie on three-under-par 285, eight shots adrift of leading qualifier Francesco Guermani, was good enough for Hoey to progress into Friday's six-round finals.
A superb third round seven-under-par 65 had left Hoey just one off the pace after Saturday's play but the putts refused to drop yesterday.
Scrabo's Andrew McCormack finished tied for 40th, missing the qualifying spot by three shots after a final round 75 for 297, but he was not too despondent saying, "I've decided that I'm going to turn pro. I'll never know what I've been missing if I don't do it now and I might have to get a real job if I don't!"
Colm Moriarty finished well down the field on 12-over-par 300 in spite of a final round 70.
At the weather-delayed event at St Cyprien in France where strong winds are still causing problems Stephen Browne shot 70 yesterday in the second round and is certain to join Hoey, Gary Murphy and Damien McGrane on Friday on the Costa Brava, as he leads the field on 144.
The tournaments at St Cyprien and Peralada have been reduced to 54 holes with officials hoping to complete play today.
EUROPEAN TOUR SCHOOL
PGA GOLF de CATALUNYA - Final totals: 209 - F Guermani (It) 72 69 68; 210 - M Hoey (N.Ire) 73 72 65; 212 -D Edlund (Swe) 76 70 66; A Binaghi (It) 71 71 70; 213 - S Cowle (Eng) 69 74 70; 214 -P Nyman (Swe) 75 68 71; 215 -M Pendaries (Fr) 71 73 71; 216 - M Knight (Swi) 74 72 70; T Schuster (Ger) 72 71 73; S O'Hara (Scot) 75 71 70; M Kirk (SA) 76 71 69. Other Irish scores: 222 - A McCormick (Scrabo) 72 77 73. 230 - C Moriarty (Athlone) 77 77 76.
PERALADA - First round scores: 63 - J Hepworth (Eng), 65 - T Jesus Muñoz (Sp), J Clement (Am) (Swi), 66 - P Magnebrant (Swe), R Derksen (NL), M Welch (Eng), M Fraser (Am) (Aus), 67 - J M Carriles (Sp), M Higley (Eng), S P Webster (Eng), I Hutchings (SA), L Claverie (Sp), C Cowper (Eng), M Urquhart (Scot), C Monk (Eng), B Petterson (Swe), D Dupart (Fr), A Crawford (Aus). Irish scores: 72 - R Burns, 75 - P Gribben, 79 - E Brady.
ST CYPRIEN (completed first round scores): 70 - R Gomez (Arg); 71 - C Monasterio (Arg); 73 - M McGuire (Eng) 74 - R Gillot (Fr), F Pasqualucci (It); 75 - R Guillard (Fr), G Donnison (Eng), JL Guepy (Fr), C Doak (Scot), N Cheetham (Eng), G Sherry (Sco), J Dvies (Den), D Sugrue (Irl). 78 - G Cullen (Irl).
