Elson drains 40-footer to claim card

ENGLAND’S Jamie Elson epitomised the fighting spirit needed to succeed at the six-round European Tour Qualifying School when he holed a unlikely 40-foot bomb for birdie on his 108th and final hole of the week to earn his card on the seven under par limit.

The 30-year-old shot a 63 just to make the cut at PGA Catalunya Resort and, although a fifth round 73 left him three shots outside the crucial top 30 and ties, he looked on course for a European Tour return when he picked up three shots on his front nine on the Stadium Course.

A double-bogey at his 10th hole, followed by seven successive pars, left him needing something special at the 478-yard ninth to make his dream come true. And he found it in style, draining an unlikely putt up a steep slope for a closing 70 to win the 32nd card.

England’s David Dixon carded a three under 69 to win the top card as he finished one stroke clear of compatriot Sam Hutsby (68) on 21 under par 407, with Andy Sullivan (68), a member of this year’s triumphant Great Britain and Ireland Waker Cup team, a stroke further back in third.

A total of 37 players earned cards on 421 or better, with former European Tour winner Maarten Lafeber of the Netherlands one of eight players to qualify on the seven-under par limit despite closing with three successive bogeys.

Several players made major leaps up the leaderboard in the final round of the six-day marathon with American Scott Pinckney, a childhood friend of Rory McIlroy, the biggest mover as he birdied his 16th and 18th holes in a joint best of the day 65 with Scottish veteran Gary Orr (eighth) to earn the 24th card on eight under, having started the day tied for 66th.

“I knew I needed to pick up two shots coming in,” Pinckney said. “It hasn’t hit me yet, but I am just thrilled beyond belief, it’s a dream come true.”

Spaniard Agustin Domingo (67) had an eagle, two birdies in his last five holes to finish on ten under while England’s Andrew Marshall holed par putts of 10 and 15 feet on the last two greens to take the 37th and last card.

A total of 957 players teed it up at the Qualifying School but just six came through all three stages — Pinckney, Austria’s Hans Peter Bacher, Dutchmen Wil Besseling and Taco Remkes, Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo and Spain’s Adrian Otaequi.