Paul Dunne reaches European Q-school final after play-off
Tuesday 10 November 2015 11:54, UK
Paul Dunne progressed to the final round of the European Tour’s qualifying school after edging through a six-way play-off in the second stage in Spain.
The 22-year-old, who held the 54-hole lead at the Open at St Andrews in what has been a memorable 2015, left it late at Lumine Golf and Beach Club to keep his hopes of securing a European Tour playing card alive.
Dunne needed a birdie at the par-five last to close a four-under 67 and move in to a tie for 17th, before taking the final qualifying spot on offer by progressing through the play-off at the sixth extra hole.
Alternating between the tenth and 18th holes alongside South Africa's Jaco Ahlers and Portugal's Tiago Cruz, Dunne parred the first two additional holes before matching Ahlers birdie at the next.
With Cruz's blemish at the second extra hole seeing him eliminated, Ahlers and Dunne continued to post the same scores before the Irishman progressed with a gain at the third extra visit to the 18th.
Dunne was involved in one of four second stage events, with Philipp Mejow cruising to a four stroke victory at Las Colinas Golf and Country Club.
European Tour Weekly
Walker Cup team-mate Jimmy Mullen topped the standings in the second stage event at Campo de Golf El Saler, as Irishman Brian Casey shared top spot at Panroamica with Spanish amateur Scott Fernandez
Dunne will now travel to Girona for the six-round shoot-out at PGA Catalunya Resort in Girona, which gets underway on Saturday, where the top-25 finishes earn a full playing card for next season.
