Paul Cutler will be in action in the EuroPro Tour event at Galgorm Castle at the end of May.Paul Cutler is looking forward to getting his 2012 season off to an exciting start when he tees it up in the Ulster Bank PGA Europro Open at Galgorm Castle from May 29 to June 1.

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.

Niall O’Briain finished in the money at Wensum ValleyThe Island’s David Rawluk and Limerick’s Tim Rice tied for eighth place in the opening Europro Tour event of the season at Wensum Valley.

Newlands’ Cian Curley was the top Irish qualifier in the 54-hole PGA Europro Tour Q-School finals at Frilford Heath.

First there were 12. Then there were four. But in the end none of the Irish hopefuls came through Stage One (Section A) of the European Tour Qualifying School. Here's hoping for better luck for the 25 heading for Section B next week.

And then there were four.

Stephen Grant, Barrie Trainor, Brian McElhinney,Michael Lavelle were the only Irishmen to survive the 54-hole cut as the axe fell at the First Stage of the European Tour Qualifying School (Section A).

Dreams of winning a European Tour are over for another year for Noel Fox and his brother James, Alan Murray, Ulstermen Byron Campbell and Adam Savage, Neil O Briain, Ger Hall and Danny Sugrue.

Talk about a bad day at the office.

Stephen GrantAs PQ1 (Section A) reached the halfway stage at four venues in England, Scotland, Portugal and Denmark, all 12 Irish hopefuls are outside the qualifying places.

Barrie Trainor is the best of the bunch but a second round 78 at Dundonald Links relegated the Warrenpoint man from fifth to tied 23rd,  one stroke outside the top 20 who will progress to stage two from that venue after four rounds.

Walker Cup player Niall Kearney is one of 37 Irishmen who have entered the first stage of the European Tour Qualifying School later this month.

The 21-year old Royal Dublin amateur will tee it up in a 115-man field at Fleesensee Golf and Country Club near Berlin from September 22-25 alongside Justin Brink and fellow South of Ireland champions Mark Campbell and Mervyn Owens.

Kearney is one of six Irish amateurs amongst the 749 hopefuls who will begin their bids of European Tour cards at stage one. The others are Ulstermen Byron Campbell and Ruairi McGee, Newlands’ Irish international Cian Curley, Royal Dublin’s Neil O Briain and Portmarnock’s James Fox.

Portstewart’s Paul Cutler, who was disappointed not to make the Walker Cup side this year, has not entered.