Limerick’s Cian McNamara leads the Irish challenge at Stage One of the Q-School in France. Four Irish players are in position to qualify from the European Tour School Stage One Section C qualifier at  Golf d’Hardelot Les Pins in France.

Paul Cutler during last week’s Irish Open. Photo Jenny Matthews/www.golffile.iePaul Cutler has a chance to record his first victory as a professional and take a giant leap up the Europro rankings in what promises to be a thrilling final round of the Audi Cork Irish Masters at Fota Island.

Ballymena amateur Dermot McElroy opened with a fine 71 at Royal Portrush. Photo Jenny Matthews/www.golffile.ieIreland’s lesser lights showed the stars they can play a bit in the first round of the Irish Open at Royal Portrush.

Michael Collins. (Photo Jenny Matthews/www.golffile.ie) Jonny Caldwell, Aaron O’Callaghan and Noel Fox made the top 15 who came through the European Tour Qualifying School First Stage at Dundonald Links.

But there was heartbreak for Cork’s Michael Collins, who was ninth overnight but slipped one shot outside the seven over par qualifying mark after a final round 77.

It was an even tougher day for former European Tour stalwart Gary Murphy as he crashed to an 80 to miss out on a place in Stage Two by five shots, slipping from 13th overnight to 18th place.

The 16th at Dundonald Links. Five of the 10 Irish entrants are poised to progress with Clandeboye’s Jonny Caldwell and Scottish amateur Philip McLean tied for the lead with a round to play in the First Stage of the European Tour Qualifying School at Dundonald Links.

Gary Murphy in action at the Irish Open this year. Photo Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ieGary Murphy started well but former Walker Cup player Jonny Caldwell is just one stroke off the pace after a marathon day at Stage One of the European Tour Qualifying School at Dundonald Links.

Steven Hackett was a birdie machine at Galgorn Castle.Cork Golf Club’s Steven Hackett moved up to 13th in the Europro Tour’s Order of Merit when he closed with a five under par 67 to finish solo third on his tour debut in the Galgorm Castle Northern Ireland Open.

Five shots behind Scotland’s Ross Cameron starting the final round, Hackett fired six birdies and just one bogey in a superb effort to finish just four shots outside a play-off for the £10,000 top prize. Scores

James Hepworth won the Europro Tour event at Galgorm Castle in 2010Ireland’s up and coming stars will get a chance to strut their stuff on home soil in 2011.

Pro golf will return to Ulster next season when the Europro Tour stops off at Galgorm Castle near Ballymena from June 27 to July 1.

Damian Mooney and Niall Kearney kept their tour dreams alive when they battled through the second stage of the European Tour Qualifying School in Spain.

Gary Murphy revived his chances of making next week’s finals when he fired a second round 69 at the second stage of the European Tour Qualifying School in Spain.

STRIKER. Stephen Grant made a solid start to the qualifying school second stage in Spain. Damian Mooney, Stephen Grant and Niall Kearney were the best of the Irish after the first round of the European Tour Qualifying School second stage in Spain.

Popular Kilkenny man Gary Murphy faces a 10-round marathon to win back his European Tour card.

The affable 38-year old is just one of 12 Irishmen set to peg it up over 72 holes in the Second Stage of the European Tour Qualifying School at four venues in southern Spain from November 26-29 and, hopefully, the six round Finals in Catalunya.

Tim Rice played his last seven holes in six under at Wensum Valley. His reward was just £345 (€400)

Paul O’Hanlon and Michael Collins made a strong start to the Europro Tour season when they shared fourth place behind Australian Daniel Gaunt in the Motocaddy Masters at Wensum Valley in Norfolk.

Michael Collins produced a rollercoaster finish the lead the Irish hopefuls after the first round of the opening Europro Tour event of the season - the Motocaddy Masters at Wensum Valley.

Paul O’Hanlon blasted a sensational seven under par 65 to win the Hi5 Protour’s Altorreal Winter series Tour final in Spain.

An impressive Niall Kearney fired eight birdies in a superb, six under par 66 to clinch his place in this week's European Tour Qualifying School finals.

The 21-year old Walker Cup player was one of five Irishmen to come through stage two in Spain, finishing two shots behind Sweden’s Fredrik Ohlsson in brilliant share of second place on 12 under par 276 at Costa Ballena near Cadiz.

It all comes down to one round for the 12 Irishmen in action at the second stage of the European Tour Qualifying School and with just three of them in position to make this week's finals, it represents the last throw of the dice.

Challenge Tour trio Colm Moriarty, Simon Thornton and Jonathan Caldwell remained on course to make next week's final stage of the European Tour Qualifying School in Spain.

Almost 300 players are battling for 74 places in the finals at PGA Golf Catalunya at four second stage venues but nine of Ireland's 12 hopefuls are in danger of missing out.

Seven of Ireland’s 12 challengers broke par at Stage Two of the European Tour Qualifying School with four of them inside the qualifying places after the opening day.

Simon ThorntonA total of 304 players are competing at four venues in Spain with a total of 74 spots up for grabs in next week's Final Qualifying Stage at PGA Golf Catalunya where the top 30 and ties after six rounds will earn full tour cards.

Simon Thornton (68) and Colm Moriarty (69) are inside the top 18 at Sherry Golf but while Mick McGeady (71) is just two shots outside the magic number, David Higgins (72) and Eddie Barr (74) have more work to do.

Former European No 1 Ronan Rafferty gave us some food for thought following his performance on the third tier Europro Tour this week.

The dream is still alive for eight of the 37 Irishmen who entered Stage One of the European Tour Qualifying School.

Niall Kearney had to sweat in BerlinAll 12 entrants failed at Section A last week but eight of the 25 starters in Section B survived and will tee it up at one of four Stage Two venues in Spain in November.

St Margarets' John Kelly was the top man when he finished tied third on 12 under at The Oxfordshire after a closing 69. It was his fourth successive sub-par round at a venue where 28 qualified on four under par 284 or better.

John Kelly, Mick Collins and David Higgins look certain to progress to the second stage of the European Tour Qualifying School.

Mick CollinsThe Irish trio completed their weather delayed third rounds at the Oxfordshire on Friday morning with Kelly the best place after a 69 left him alone in fifth place on nine under par.

Collins posted a two under par 70 to share sixth on eight under with Waterville man Higgins sharing 18th on four under after a 73.

John Kelly repaid the faith shown in him by Padraig Harrington when he fired a second round 68 to keep his European Tour dream alive at the first stage of the Qualifying School.

Harrington and Kelly in the Irish PGA at The European Club, 2009Harrington and his brother Tadhg have been guiding Kelly's progress behind the scenes and his hard work with "Harrington Golf" looks to be paying off at The Oxfordshire.

A four under par effort left the 38 year old St Margarets man tied for fifth place on six under par with the top 27 and ties progressing to November's second stage.