Yates clinches Alps Tour card with ease
Naas pair Jonathan Yates and Conor O'Rourke during the Carey Cup matches at Galway Bay Golf Resort in 2017. Picture by Pat Cashman
Naas' Jonathan Yates will join clubmate Conor O'Rourke on the Alps Tour next year after he finished seventh in the Qualifying School at La Cala on Saturday.
The former West of Ireland champion (25) and Irish international followed rounds of 72 and 69 with a closing 68 to finish on six-under par.
Spain’s Angel Hidalgo (20) shot a 65 to win by five shots on 14-under par from Argentina's Maximilian Godoy (70) with Italy's Enrico Di Nitto third on eight-under after a 73.
Yates was one of 38 players to win a Category 6 card, which means he is guaranteed a spot in every Alps Tour event next season.
Stephen Grant (65th) and Michael Dallat (66th) won Category 8 membership with Justin Brink and Peter Dallat earning category 9 credentials.
The 2019 Alps Tour season will start in February with a series of tournaments in Egypt.
The full 2019 tournament schedule is due to be released at the beginning of next year.
