Perthshire golfers chase Euro dream

Sep 24 2010 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

BIG County golfers Wallace Booth and Gavin Dear are chasing their European Tour card dreams again, writes Gordon Bannerman.

Both the Walker Cup and Eisenhower world team champions are counting down to the second stage of the qualifying school in Spain in November.

Crieff star Booth won the first qualifying class at windswept Dundonald Links by three shots from his nearest challenger and was well ahead of the rest of the field.

He carded rounds of 74, 70, 74 and 69 for a one under par tally.

Murrayshall’s Dear has been performing on the Alps Tour this season and a fourth place in the current pecking order has earned him a passport to the second stage in the chase for a coveted European Tour card.

The next phase takes place over four courses in Spain – Costa Ballena Ocean Club, Arcos Gardens, Hacienda del Alamo and El Valle Golf Resort – from November 26-29 before the final stage at PGA Golf Catalunya Resort in December, where 30 players will win a European Tour card for 2011.

Last season both Perthshire players came to grief before the final stage.