Calle Carlsson and Mike Stewart (right) shake on the deal to keep the European Tour Qualifying School Final Stage at Lumine GC for three more years. Picture EUROPEAN TOUR

LUMINE Golf Club has been confirmed as the host venue of the European Tour Qualifying School Final Stage for the next three years.

The Spanish venue first became a venue in 2012 when it became a second stage qualifying venue.

It became the location for the six-round marathon at the European Tour Qualifying School Final Stage – described as one of the toughest events in golf, in 2017.

Lumine’s two courses – The Hills and The Lakes – have so far seen 468 players tee it up at three pressure-packed Final Stage events, all hoping to seal one of 25 European Tour cards for the following season.

It will continue to welcome European Tour hopefuls from 2020-2022.

In 2019, Denmark’s Benjamin Poke carded six sub-70 rounds at Lumine to win by six shots, while his compatriot Rasmus Højgaard became the first player born in the 21st century to secure his playing privileges at the Tour’s Qualifying School.

The 18-year-old immediately reaped the benefits, triumphing at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open two weeks later to become the third youngest winner on the European Tour.

European Tour Qualifying School director Mike Stewart said: “Lumine Golf Club has provided a terrific test for players since 2012, even more so since it became a Final Stage venue, pushing players all the way as they go in search of a European Tour card in one of golf’s most dramatic events.

“The quality of both courses, plus Lumine’s fantastic practice facilities and hospitality, have drawn praise from competitors and we look forward to working with Calle Carlsson and his team on delivering more successful editions of the event in the coming years.”

Calle Carlsson, Lumine’s general manager, said: “Welcoming back the European Tour Qualifying School Final Stage for 2020 is an honour.

“We are delighted to yet again be hosting this prestigious event as it will be the fourth consecutive year that golfing hopefuls will battle it out on the Lumine golf courses.

“We have worked hard on the quality and test of golf we have here and I am immensely proud of my team as it is testament to their hard work and commitment that the European Tour have chosen to return to Lumine.

“We look forward to welcoming this year’s hopefuls to Lumine in November.”

The post European Tour Qualifying School Final Stage all set to remain at Lumine until 2022 appeared first on Golf North.

Benjamin Poke extended his lead to three shots at the European Tour Qualifying School at Lumine GC, in Spain’s Tarragona. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

BENJAMIN Poke remained in control on day four of the European Tour Qualifying School’s Final Stage as he increased his lead to three shots at Lumine Golf Club.

The Dane is in pole position with two rounds remaining after posting his fourth consecutive sub-70 round to reach 16-under par.

Meanwhile Poke’s closest challengers, Korea’s Jinho Choi, India’s SSP Chawrasia and Finland’s Sami Valimaki shared second place on 13-under.

The 27-year-old, who shot a four-under 67 on the Lakes Course on Monday, has led the six-round tournament since day two.

And following a bogey-free fourth round, which included two birdies in his final three holes, Poke will now look to earn a European Tour card for the first time in his career.

Poke said: “The conditions were a bit calmer but I still started off a bit slower, like I did yesterday.

“I just kept hitting fairways and greens but missed a few greens around five and six, and managed to scramble in nicely, which kept the momentum going a bit.

“I got a nice birdie on eight and from then on, I kept giving myself big chances and scrambled nicely when I needed to,” added Poke, who finished 29th on the Challenge Tour’s Road to Mallorca.

“It helps playing alongside guys who were also playing well. Toby (Tree) was three-under, I was four-under and Sami was six and it definitely helps because everybody’s playing well and going through good vibes.

“I’ve not given where I finish much thought, to be honest,” said Poke, who has been watching snooker on TV to relax in the evenings.

“Obviously, it’s a goal for everyone but I feel like I’ve got nothing to lose really. I’m just going do my best and see what happens.”

Choi charged up the leaderboard with the joint low round of the day on the Lakes – a seven-under 64, as he aims to regain his European Tour playing privileges, while 21-year-old Valimaki also pulled himself into contention with a six-under par 65.

Choi, who finished 181st on the Race to Dubai forcing last year’s Korean Tour money list winner to head to Qualifying School, said: “I enjoyed the round today. It was pretty solid.

“I putted really well, other than one three-putt, which was a missed short one, but overall it was a good day.”

“Coming into today I reminded myself that we’re only halfway through the tournament.

“So I told myself that I need to shoot some low scores this second half, and so that was all I really focused on – going low.

“I know I still need to shoot low numbers over the final two rounds as well if I want to get a European Tour card, so my mindset will still be to go low and keep playing solid golf.”

Chawrasia continued to safely navigate his way through the six-round marathon with a four-under par 67 on the Lakes.

The four-time European Tour winner was helped by an ace on the 186-yard fourth hole, one of two hole-in-ones recorded on the par three.

Frenchman Robin Sciot-Siegrist also holed his tee shot en route to a 67 of his own.

Armitage cashes in on conditions

A six-way chasing pack, which includes Germans Hurly Long, Nicolai von Dellingshausen and Marcel Schneider, Sussex’s Toby Tree and Yorkshire’s Marcus Armitage as well as Frenchman Adrien Saddier, all share fifth place on 12-under.

Thirty-two year-old Armitage, whose only Challange Tour win came in the 2016 Foshan Open, said: “I’m really pleased with today’s round.

“I thought it was going to be quite windy. But it turned out to be calm and presented a lot of opportunities – and I played really well,” said Armitage who is attached to Howley Hall GC.

“I’m just taking it like any event, you keep chasing and you are trying to win.

“Obviously, you want to be in the top 25 but you also want to win the tournament – and that is the goal at the start of the week, and we will keep going.”

Scotland’s Ewen Ferguson charged up the leaderboard with an eight-under par 64, which marked the low round of the tournament at the Hills Course.

It took the Scot from outside the cut line to tied 17^th, inside the number for a European Tour card.

Ferguson, who played in the 2015 Walker Cup before turning pro in 2016, said: “I played well today. I played well on the first couple of days as well.

“But it’s a long week and you just have to keep plugging away. I didn’t want a mistake to happen early on, so I think I played a little bit too defensive in the first couple of rounds.

“Today I just seemed to attack at a lot more pins – I just thought let’s just go for it,” added Ferguson, who is attached to Glasgow’s Bearsden GC.

“My dad’s out watching me this week and it’s quite nice to have someone you’re close to just watching you and willing you to do well with the odd wee fist pump when you hole a putt.

“I’m pretty tired after a long season on the Challenge Tour with China and Mallorca in the last few weeks,” said 23-year-old Ferguson, who won the Boys Amateur Championship, at Royal Birkdale, in 2013.

“I’ve felt quite a lot of pressure to try and get my card for quite a while now, so that’s why my dad’s come along to motivate me.

“I’m feeling pretty good – there’s two more days to go and I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing and see what happens at the end of it.”

The Final Stage cut line, which is limited to the top 70 players and ties after four rounds, fell at four-under, with 77 players making it through to the last two rounds.

Each player who bettered the 72-hole benchmark is guaranteed full status on the European Challenge Tour for 2020, with the top 25 players and ties earning European Tour cards after the sixth and final round

The attention now turns to the Lakes Course where the 77 remaining players will contest each of the two remaining rounds.

•For live scoring at Lumine, click here.

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Denmark’s Benjamin Poke has been watching snooker on telly to take his mind off the pressure of trying to earn a card at the European Tour Qualifying School, at Lumine, in Spain. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

DENMARK’S Benjamin Poke extended his lead to two shots on day three of European Tour Qualifying School as the six-round marathon tournament reached the halfway stage.

The Dane, who completed a strong rookie season on the European Challenge Tour, carded four birdies and only one bogey to sign for a three-under par 69 on Lumine Golf Club’s Hills Course.

Poke said: “It was nice to finish with a flurry of birdies at the end. I was hitting greens from the start but leaving myself some long putts.

“By the time I got to the back nine I was striking them better and hitting my approach shots a bit closer – and I managed to take advantage of that over the closing holes.

“I haven’t really looked at the scoreboards this week or checked online after the round to see how I’m doing and I’ve been watching snooker over the last few days in the evening to take my mind off things.

“It’s a new day tomorrow so I’m just going to try and approach things the same way – enjoy being out here playing,” said Poke, who finished 29th on the Road to Mallorca.

“I’m looking forward to going out there and playing the next few days. I’m trying not to think about the top 25 at the moment as I can’t control what other players are doing.

“I can only try and control how I play and we’ll see where it all ends up at the end of the week,” Poke added.

The 27-year-old began the day sharing the lead, but finished with two late birdies to reach a three-round total of 12-under – two shots clear of his nearest competitor Lars van Meijel.

The Dutchman, who also narrowly missed out on graduating to the European Tour after finishing 19th on the Challenge Tour’s Road to Mallorca, converted six birdies and made an eagle-two on the Hills Course’s par four 12^th hole.

Van Meijel signed for a seven-under 65 to move 39 places up the leaderboard in the race to catch Poke.

“I had a really bad start yesterday and then played pretty decent,” said Lars van Meijel.

“Today, I played alright. My wedges were really good and I putted pretty well, but from the tee I was a bit shaky.

“I had a couple of good bounces as well. Overall my irons were pretty decent, especially my wedges and my putting was also really good.

“It’s the first time I’ve played in Final Stage and it’s absurd to think there are still three rounds to go. I’ll just keep playing one shot at a time – keep it relaxed and chilled, and then we’ll see.

“I feel confident. I’m just focussing on myself and trying to play the best golf I can. Then we’ll see where I end up.

“I made some small changes in the way I practice with a new coach and also, my childhood technical coach has made some small changes which have also clicked. I’m just trying to get better every day.”

Sharing third place on nine-under are India’s SSP Chawrasia and overnight joint-leader Toby Tree, from Sussex.

The field at the Final Stage of Qualifying School competes on both the Hills and Lakes courses.

With the leading half all playing the Hills Course on day three, they will now take to the Lakes Course for the all-important fourth round, where the field is reduced to the top 70 and ties.

The low round of the tournament was carded by two players on day three,

Staffordshire’s Will Enefer and Australian David Micheluzzi, who were paired together on the Lakes Course, both fired eight under 63s – and they both moved into a share of 62^nd place on two-under.

Enefer, who has had a consistent season on the EuroPro Tour withouth converting some good displays with a victory, said: “The first two days I wasn’t looking at the leaderboard.

“I was just looking at the playing zone. But after today it has completely changed everything, so I am really pleased.

“My playing partner David was also eight-under which helped as well,” added Enefer, who plays out of Enville GC.

“I was hitting quite a few inside his and he was holing in first so I was like: ‘I can’t let him keep going lower and I’m not.’

“So I followed him in and we kept bouncing off of each other.”

Micheluzzi was equally pleased with the outcome, saying: “I was really happy with today’s round.

“I holed zero putts the first few days but felt like they all dropped today to bring myself back within the cut line, and I’m just happy to be back in the mix after a disappointing first few days.

“I had nothing to lose after a disappointing first couple of rounds and so I just went out there and started firing at some pins and managed to hole some putts as well.”

That two-under total also stands as the current projected cut line.

Any player surviving the 72-hole cut will be guaranteed a European Challenge Tour card as they battle it out on the Lakes Course over the final two days.

A spot in the top 25 including ties will secure a potentially life-changing European Tour card.

•For live scoring in the fourth round at Lumine GC, click here.

The post Benjamin Poke refusing to let pressure snooker him at Tour’s Qualifying School appeared first on Golf North.

The signature 17th hole with the 13th green in the foreground at Lumine’s Hills Course, which will stage the European Tour Qualifying School Final next month.

THE Lumine golf resort which will host the final stage of next month’s European Tour Qualifying School has upgraded the Hills Course before the 156 players battling for their 2020 playing rights arrive in Tarragona.

Lumine Mediterránea Beach & Golf Community, which has two championship courses, has also refitted the Lakes Course clubhouse as part of an ongoing €2million redevelopment programme.

A major fairway drainage project on the Hills Course has been central to ensuring a high quality of fairway turf throughout the year on the Costa Daurada course.

As a result, the rough lining the fairways has also become much more defined, giving even the best golfers an additional challenge if they miss the short grass.

Adjoining areas of play have been improved and are also much better defined now thanks to the addition of nearly 20,000 plants and shrubs that line and shape the walkways.

The improvements not only improve the overall look and feel of the course, but are ready to claim any errant shot that goes their way, says the course’s general manager Calle Carlsson.

All the buggy paths have also been upgraded with new kerbs and improved routing, to better protect the fairway and rough.

On the Lakes Course, the clubhouse is now an even more focal point for guests visiting Lumine as the result of a major refit.

The design aims to offer a lighter, more open plan environment that maximises the view over the daunting par five 18th hole and the water hazard surrounding the green.

The reception area has also been modernised, with new sign in technology that will make check-in much more efficient, while the pro shop has received a complete refresh, aimed at creating a premium boutique feel with improved display areas.

Calle Carlsson said: “It has been quite an undertaking, but we are delighted with the results so far, with many more changes to come in the months ahead.

“Not only have the changes enhanced the playability of the Hills Course, the premium feel we have created in the Lakes Course clubhouse enhances our reputation as a premier golf destination.

“We look forward to welcoming the next generation of potential European Tour players in November and, beyond that, the many thousands of golfers that visit every year to play.”

The upgrades have been completed ahead of the European Tour Final Qualifying Stage, which takes place over six rounds from November 15-20.

Those teeing it up in November will not only face a sterner test across all 108 holes on both courses, they will also be able to take advantage of the improved facilities when recuperating after their round.

European Tour Qualifying Final Stage tournament director Mike Stewart said: “This is the eighth year we have visited Lumine as part of Qualifying School – and the third time it wll host Final Stage.

“Every time we come back the team has made improvements and their commitment to presenting both courses in top condition for the event is very impressive.

“We always get great feedback from the players and look forward to working with the team to deliver another fantastic event next month.”

•To book your stay at one of Spain’s premier golf and leisure destinations, and for information about the packages on offer click here.

The new reception area in the clubhouse of Lumine’s Lakes Course which will greet the 156 players who make it through to the final stage of the 2019 Euorpean Tour Qualifying School

Amateur Champions shone in Spain

AMONG those who came through European Tour Qualifying School in 2018 were two former Amateur Champions.

Hampshire’s Scott Gregory and France’s Romain Langasque earned a full Tour card along with America’s Kurt Kitayama, who went on to win twice in his first 11 appearances on the European Tour between December and March.

Ironically the two players had met in the final of the 2016 Spanish Amateur Championship at Royal Valencia Golf Club.

Langasque, who had won the Amateur Championship in 2015 at Carnoustie, went on to win a one-sided final, but it spurred on the Corhampton golfer, who was crowned Langasque’s successor just three months later at Royal Porthcawl – beating Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre.

The pair were Walker Cup team-mates a year later in Los Angeles are now and both playing on the European Tour after MacIntyre qualifed via the European Challenge Tour in 2018.

Last year’s ETQS winner in north-east Spain was Spaniard Alejandro Canizares while Florida-based Englishman Sam Horsfield was the first winner of the final stage held at Lumine, back in 2017.

Lincolnshire’s Nathan Kimsey was the surprise winner three years ago, the last time ETQS was held at PGA de Catalunya – the ninth year in row the final stage was held at the Girona venue.

Essex’s Richard McEvoy and Simon Khan were the winners in 2003 and 2009 respectively.

Three Englishmen in a row claimed the title after Khan – Northumberland’s Simon Wakefield, Somerset’s David Dixon and John Parry from Yorkshire, in 2012.

After eight venues across Europe hosted the first stage in September and October, players will be heading to Spain in the first week of November fighting for about half of the 156 places availble at Lumine.

The four venues are Alenda Golf and Las Colinas Golf & Country Club, in Alicante, Desert Springs, in Almeria, and Bonmont Golf Club in Tarragona.

All four tournaments will take place from November 7-10, with the first round of stage three commencing at Lumine, just five days after the final round at stage two

•For more information about stage two of the European Tour Qualifying School click here.

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