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Hurley and Hoey miss out on Tour cards at Q-School

Korea’s YE Yang, the first major winner to compete at the event, was among those to secure his spot for next season.

GARY HURLEY AND MICHAEL Hoey have fallen short in their bids to claim coveted European Tour cards at the final day of Q-School in Girona, Spain.

With the top 25 players (plus ties) assured of their places on next year’s tour at the end of the six gruelling rounds this week, Hoey missed out on a card by just two shots and Hurley by three.

Both men had ground to make up heading into today’s sixth and final round at PGA Catalunya Resort and Hurley made an incredible start, beginning on the 10th hole of the Stadium Course, sinking five successive birdies from the 11th onwards after dropping a shop on his opening hole.

However, the Waterford man’s round lost momentum on the front nine as his two bogeys and one double bogey saw him sign for a two-under par round and a two-under par total, three shots shy of the required five-under.

Golf - Walker Cup - Day One - Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club Gary Hurley. Peter Byrne Peter Byrne

Hurley paid the price for four-over par rounds on Saturday and Monday, although he did produce some stunning golf when under pressure, notably his remarkable birdie run today and a 65 on Tuesday.

Hoey was three shots better off than Hurley heading into today’s round, which he also began on the Stadium Course’s 10th hole.

The Antrim man began with a double bogey but made the turn at level-par after picking up birdies on the 12th and 15th.

He picked up four birdies on the front nine but that work was undone by bogeys at the third and sixth holes and a double bogey on the fourth.

Hoey eventually signed for a level-par 72 today to finish three-under for the tournament.

Aberdeen Asset Management Paul Lawrie Match Play - Day Two - Archerfield Links Michael Hoey. Jane Barlow Jane Barlow

Nathan Kimsey of England finished top of the leaderboard on 13-under par, signifcantly aided by his incredible nine-under 61 on Tuesday.

Among the other names to claim Tour cards for next season were former Ryder Cup player Edoardo Molinari of Italy, England’s Eddie Pepperell and South Korea’s YE Yang, the first major winner to battle it out at Europe’s Q-School.

England’s Ross McGowan, Simon Khan and Oliver Wilson were some of the others to miss out in Girona.

Ireland’s Ruaidhri McGee and Kevin Phelan failed to make the fourth-round cut on Tuesday.

*You can see the full leaderboard here.

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