Rice only Irish survivor in European Tour qualifier

Limerick’s Tim Rice did what his three fellow countrymen couldn’t in northern France yesterday — progress to the next stage of European Tour qualifying.

Going into the final round at Golf d’Hardelot there were real hopes that all four Irishmen – Rice, Cian McNamara, Neil O’Briain and Michael Collins – would secure their places in November’s second phase.

But in the end only Rice, who carded a one-over-par 72, made it through, though he only qualified by one stroke while Royal Dublin’s O’Briain (75), McNamara (76), also from the Limerick club, and Mallow’s Collins (76) fell at the final hurdle.