Q School Second Stage

Anthony Quayle has taken a major step towards keeping his DP World Tour career alive, winning Second Stage of Qualifying School at Fontanals Golf Club in Girona, Spain, and booking a place at Final Stage. Quayle finds himself at Q School because he finished the regular season in 147th on the Race to Dubai rankings so had no DP World Tour status for next season.

When Ozziegolf caught up with the Queensland-based Quayle in Torino in June, he described his first season in Europe as “rocks and diamonds”, either contending or struggling. He had earned his card through the PGA of Australia’s Order of Merit pathway after seven years on the Japan Tour, and was loving the variety of life on the road. He also told us his game felt “really, really good”, and that the next few weeks would be too. His Second Stage Q School week was all diamonds.

Quayle opened with a 63 to share the first-round lead with Argentine amateur Mateo Pulcini, followed it with a 64 to go three clear at the halfway mark, then added rounds of 65 and 70. His 18-under total was two shots better than Germany’s Max Schmitt, who closed with a 63.

Jack Buchanan

For the Australians and New Zealanders only a total of four advanced from 17 starters across the four venues: Quayle, Kevin Yuan, Jack Buchanan Kiwi Sam Jones who tied for fourth at Fontanals on 12 under. At Golf Las Pinaillas, Kevin Yuan finished tenth on 13 under and Jack Buchanan 17th on 12 under, safely inside the 19 places on offer.

Kevin Yuan

There was disappointment for the rest. Connor McKinney, who tied for second at last year’s Final Stage, finished in a tie for 39th at Desert Springs. Austin Bautista came closest, 22nd on 13 under with 20 places available, while Jack Thompson, Matias Sanchez, Phoenix Campbell, and Lachlan Barker also missed out there.

At Fontanals, Kiwi Cameron Harlock tied for 27th alongside Declan O’Donovan, Connor McDade was 39th and Ryan Peake withdrew. At Isla Canela Links, Jay Mackenzie was 28th and Kiwi Nick Voke 37th. Voke was in a tie for 15th position going into the final day but a poor closing round of 74 saw him slip out of contention. Doug Klein was 54th at Las Pinaillas.

Jason Scrivener

In total 321 players contested the four 72-hole events, with around 80 places available. Jones, Harlock, McDade, and Campbell had each needed to come through First Stage just to reach Spain. The other winners were Pakistan’s Ahmad Baig at Desert Springs (27 under), the Netherlands’ Jerry Ji at Isla Canela Links (22 under) and Spain’s Albert Boneta at Golf Las Pinaillas (19 under).

Haydn Barron

Final Stage will be played at Infinitum in Tarragona from November 6 to 11. Joining the four from Second Stage will be another five Ozzies: Jason Scrivener, Will Florimo, Elvis Smylie, Haydn Barron, and Cameron John. A field of 156 players will contest six rounds, with a cut after 72 holes, and the top 15 and ties will earn DP World Tour cards for 2027.

Cam John

For Quayle, who has been away from home for months, the next week is another test of his game and his stamina, but the Ozzie golf community will be backing Quayle and our other Ozzies teeing it up in final stage.

Elvis Smylie

Kiwi Kazuma Kobori was the only regular DP World Tour player from Australasia to finish in the top 100 at the end of the regular season. Adam Scott and Min Woo Lee were well up the rankings, but they play the PGA Tour. Scrivener will have Category 19 status but realistically that does not get many starts. Smylie might get some of the rumoured invites that will be handed out to former LIV players.

Will Florimo

So, we really need to get behind these guys this week so that they can continue playing in Europe and we can watch Ozzies performing regularly on the DP World Tour next season.

Footnote: at time of publishing Austin Bautista is 1st reserve for Final Stage.