YE Yang and Edoardo Molinari retain European Tour cards at Q-School
Friday 18 November 2016 10:12, UK
YE Yang, Edoardo Molinari and Eddie Pepperell retained their European Tour cards as Nathan Kimsey claimed victory in the final stage of Qualifying School after a marathon six days in Girona.
Kimsey became only the second player in history to come through all three stages and win the finale at PGA Catalunya after a closing 70 sealed a one-stroke triumph.
The young Englishman birdied two of the final four holes to cap a remarkable effort in which he played a total of 252 holes, and he topped the list of 30 players who earned their cards for the 2017 season.
"I have no words," said Kimsey, 23. "I was just trying to keep the nerves down and keep calm, keep making good swings, find greens and make it easy for myself just to stay in the top 25 - I couldn't have even thought about winning at all.
"Becoming a European Tour player means everything right now. Having to come through from first stage after not the best of years and to get a full card, it's crazy to think I've done it."
Former Ryder Cup star Molinari recovered from an early double-bogey at the second to grind out a 74 which proved enough for a share of second with Scott Henry and veteran Ricardo Gonzalez, who became the oldest Qualifying School graduate in history.
The 47-year-old Argentine put together a flawless final-round 64, making four birdies and an eagle in a back-nine 30 on a day when only two other players kept a bogey off their cards.
Pepperell slipped outside the top 110 on the Race to Dubai with a poor finish to his last round in the final event of the regular season in Portugal, but he regained his card with a solid 71 to claim a share of fifth on 10 under for the week.
"I played really nice all week, just putted poorly," he said. "I am just relieved to get in and not do any more damage as it would have been a tough one to take because I played so well for five and a half days. It is probably the most stressful day I have had on a golf course and it is something I do not want to do again."
Yang, who held off Tiger Woods to become the first Asian to win a major at the 2009 PGA Championship, ensured his playing rights for 2017 with an impressive 67 in blustery conditions.
The South Korean's flying finish lifted him to eight under alongside former Portugal Masters champion Tom Lewis, while European Tour stalwart Mark Foster and Q-School specialist Richard McEvoy were also among the 30 graduates.
But 2008 Ryder Cup player Oliver Wilson and former BMW PGA champion Simon Khan face an uncertain future after missing out along with five-time European Tour winner Michael Hoey.
