Heartbreak as school’s out for Gary Hurley and Michael Hoey

It was a case of close but no cigar for the Irish pair on the final stage of Q-School at PGA Catalunya yesterday as both Michael Hoey and Gary Hurley missed out on full playing rights for the European Tour by two and three shots, respectively.

Hurley has showed immense bottle all week for a 23-year-old playing the event for the first time, and if his five-under round of 65 to make the cut on Tuesday was impressive, the manner in which he played yesterday was no less so.

Knowing he needed a similar round on the tougher Stadium Course to make the top 25 and ties who would secure their entry for the 2017 Race to Dubai, he fired five birdies in his opening six holes to bring himself to within one shot of the Holy Grail.