Dawson punches ticket to Q-School with late eagle
Robin Dawson
Portmarnock Links’ Robin Dawson made a dramatic late eagle three to keep his European Tour dream on track by the skin of his teeth in Spain.
The Tramore native (24) was one of four Irish players to get through the Second Stage of the the European Tour Qualifying School alongside Jonathan Caldwell, Niall Kearney and Michael Hoey.
The quartet now join Paul Dunne and Gavin Moynihan in the six-round Final Stage battle for 25 cards which begins at Lumine Golf Club in Tarragona on Friday.
Hoey qualified with a stroke to spare at Las Colinas on Sunday but Caldwell, Kearney and Dawson had to battle on for an extra day after weather delays at their Second Stage venues.
There were just 19 spots on offer at Club de Golf Bonmont in Tarragona and Caldwell closed with a three-under 69 to qualify comfortably in third place on nine-under par, just three shots behind winner Aron Zemmer of Italy
Dawson was one over for his round with two holes to play and facing a possible playoff for one of 20 places.
But he hit a five-iron to six feet at the 17th and made the eagle putt, then parred the last to shoot a one-under 71 and tie for 12th on four under par.
Had he not eagle the 17th and finished on two-under, he would have ended up in a what turned out to be a three-man playoff for the final two spots that did not take place until Tuesday morning due to darkness.
The former Irish Amateur Open champion’s late dramatics helped him made it to the Final Stage for the second year running.
Royal Dublin man Kearney (31) also clinched one of 20 spots at Alenda Golf in Alicante, finishing with two pars for a three-over 75 to finish tied 15th on one-under, avoiding a three-way playoff for the final spot by one shot.
KIlkenny’s Luke Donnelly was tied 56th on 12-over after a final round 75 with Galway’s Irish Amateur Close champion Ronan Mullarney a shot further back after a 74.
European Tour Qualifying School Second Stage, Spain
At Alenda Golf, Alicante (Par 72) 20 qualified on 288 after playoff Results
1, J Arnoy (Nor) 68 72 67 70 (277);
T15, N Kearney 71 74 67 78 (287).
Non-qualifiers: T56 L Donnelly (Irl) 79 74 72 75 (300); T57 R Mullarney (am) 77 77 73 74 (301); RTD D Brennan 74 76 75 RTD.
At Club de Golf Bonmont, Tarragona (Par 72) 20 qualified on 286 after playoff Results
1, A Zemmer (Ita) 67 70 68 71 (276);
3, J Caldwell (NIr) 70 71 69 69 (279);
T12, R Dawson (Irl) 67 73 73 71 (284).
Non-qualifiers: T58, T Hogarty (Irl) 73 77 74 76 (300); WD R McGee (Irl) 74 73 WD.
At Desert Springs Golf Club, Almería (Par 72) 20 qualified on 290 after playoff Results
1, B Windred (Aus) 68 68 66 76 (278).
Non qualifier: T53 D Carey (Irl) 76 71 79 73 (299).
At Las Colinas Golf & CC, Alicante (Par 71) 20 qualified on 285 after playoff Results
1, J Jones (Can) 67 70 69 70 (276);
T14, M Hoey (NIr) 70 70 69 75 (284).
Non-qualifiers: T28, C O’Rourke (Irl) 64 75 72 76 (287); T64 JR Galbraith (NIr) 72 72 76 79 (299)
