PAUL DUNNE’S PRODIGIOUS breakthrough season has culminated with his biggest achievement yet after he earned his full European Tour card for next season.
As others faltered around him, the 22-year-old held his nerve under the most exacting circumstances to finish inside the top 25 at the Qualifying School in Girona.
Six months ago he was barely known outside Irish golfing circles but now Dunne is widely regarded as one of the game’s most prodigious talents.
Starting the day in a tie for 12th, Dunne eased any nerves with three birdies before the turn to consolidate his position in the qualifying berths.
A crucial par save on nine and then on 14 came in-between a potentially damaging bogey on the par four 13th. However, Dunne, just like he did during his brush with Open glory in July, remained calm and collected to sign for a level par round of 72.
Dunne’s ten-under par total guaranteed him playing rights for the 2016 season after finishing in a tie for 13th.
900 players started the gruelling qualifying process back in September with Dunne himself negotiating 14 rounds in total to become the only Irishman to walk away with a Tour card in his back pocket.
There was disappointment for Damien McGrane, however, as he couldn’t muster a performance on the final day of six qualifying rounds. The Meath man carded a forgettable six-over par 78 to finish well off the pace.
Simon Thornton and Kevin Phelan finished an encouraging week in a tie for 61st and 67th place respectively while Ruaidhri McGee and Brian Casey had both missed the cut.
Meanwhile, at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, Rory McIlroy moved to within two shots of the lead after chipping in from the bunker at 18 to card an opening round 68 on Thursday.
McIlroy picked up shots at the second and sixth to start the tournament with a front-nine 34 and, although he bogeyed 10, there were birdies at the next two holes to keep him within touching distance.
A scrappy final hole looked to have slowed the world number three’s momentum, but he holed superbly from the sand to claim a fifth birdie of the day and cut the deficit.
He is joined on four-under by playing partner – and closest Race to Dubai rival – Danny Willett after he also birdied the last, the Englishman playing a sensational approach after a wayward tee shot.
Branden Grace – another contender to finish top of the European Tour’s order of merit on Sunday – also carded a 69 on the first day in Dubai, but all three men trail by two.
Martin Kaymer is one of four players at the top of the leaderboard after carding a 66 on Thursday, the quartet tied together on six under. Alongside the German are Marcus Fraser, Andy Sullivan and Ian Poulter, the latter enjoying an error-free round with six birdies split equally between the front and back nine.
With reporting from Brian Canty in Girona
