Oban golfer just misses out on European Tour card
OBAN’S rookie pro golfer Robert MacIntyre has just failed to secure a European Tour card.
Playing in the gruelling European Tour Qualifying School competition at La Lumine in Spain, left-hander Robert, who only turned pro a month ago, was just two shots off an automatic place on the prestigious tour.
However, 21-year-old Robert has earned himself a place on the Challenge Tour, the second-tier men’s professional golf tour in Europe.
The Glencruitten Golf Club man finished 11 under par after six competitive rounds with a total of 417.
Robert had been in an automatic qualifying place on Wednesday after a blistering five-under-par 66, but shot a level par 71 on Thursday to finish just behind the top 25 qualifiers.
A spokesman for his management company tweeted: ‘A fantastic week @ETQSchool in Spain @LumineGolf has @ robert1lefty just 2 shots short of @EuropeanTour card. A superb effort after turning pro one month ago and so many positives to take. Well played Bob.’
The Challenge Tour will still be a stern test for the young professional. This year’s tour included tournaments in Portugal, Spain, Italy, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Belgium, France, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and the United Kingdom.
It also includes competitions in Kenya, Turkey, Kazakhstan, China, Oman and the United Arab Emirates.
The Challenge Tour was introduced in 1986 and was initially called the Satellite Tour. The Order of Merit was introduced in 1989, with the top five players on it winning membership of the European Tour for the following season. The following year the tour was renamed the Challenge Tour.
Players successful on the Challenge Tour qualify for membership of the European Tour the following year. Fifteen players earn direct promotion to the European Tour.
Players finishing 16 to 45 may also gain qualification for occasional low prize money European Tour events, but can improve their status through European Tour Qualifying School. Players who win three Challenge Tour events in a season are fast-tracked onto the main tour immediately and are exempt the following season.
Robert said: ‘What a start it’s been to life as a professional and, with a win and a Challenge Tour card under my belt, I can’t wait to get on with my exciting new career in 2018. The goal for me at the European Tour Qualifying School was really the Challenge Tour, although once I got myself in the mix going into the last day I was obviously pushing hard for the bigger prize. In the end, I fell two shots short of getting into the top 25 and securing a European Tour card, but you won’t hear me being negative in any way about that.
‘The Challenge Tour is a step in the right direction for me. I think that is probably the right place for me at the age of 21.’