Conor Purcell shot a three-under 69 to finish on nine-under. Photo: Sportsfile
Portmarnock’s Conor Purcell claimed the sixth DP World Tour card when he tied for 23rd in the Rolex Challenge Tour Grand Final in Mallorca.
He shot a three-under 69 to finish on nine-under at Club de Golf Alcanada where the top 22 in the season-long points race earned promotion to the main tour.
Denmark’s Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, who topped the rankings, and South Africa’s Robin Williams were already promoted via the Race to Dubai.
The Dane tied for second with Spain’s Angel Ayora in the season finale, one stroke behind Norway’s Kristoffer Reitan, who shot 68 to win on 23-under and graduate in seventh.
Gary Hurley and Dermot McElroy will have another chance to win cards at the Final Stage of the DP World Tour Qualifying School in Tarragona this week.
Hurley tied for 31st in Mallorca on six-under after a 68 but fell one spot to 44th in the rankings with McElroy 40th after a 69 left him tied 36th on three-under.
Only Royal Dublin amateur Max Kennedy is guaranteed to join them in Tarragona after he came through the Second Stage battle for 24 spots at Isla Canela Links in Huelva.
Kennedy tied for 14th on 15-under after a 69 but Mark Power finished three shots outside the mark on 10-under after a 68 with Cormac Sharvin eight-under after a 71 and Paul McBride level par after a 68.
Nobody managed to finish in the weather-delayed battle for 23 spots at Desert Springs in Almeria, meaning Jonny Caldwell (T10 after 54 holes), Liam Nolan (T25), Paul Dunne (T44) and Niall Kearney (T48) must return tomorrow to try and make the Final Stage.
Ronan Mullarney missed out by 13 shots in Albacete while Rowan Lester was 15 shots outside the top 23 who qualified in Girona.
Meanwhile, Leona Maguire had 36 putts in a four-over 76 to finish tied 70th on one-over par in the 54-hole TOTO Japan Classic at Seta Golf Course.
She finished 16 shots outside a play-off that saw Japan’s Rio Takeda defeat US veteran Marina Alex with a birdie at the sixth tie hole.