Wonder-shot earns Phelan his European Tour card

Kevin Phelan, pictured hitting his opening tee shot in this year’s US Open at Merion, has won his European Tour card. © USGA/Michael CohenWaterford Castle’s Kevin Phelan hit what he described as “the shot of my life” to birdie the last and secure his European Tour card with a stroke to spare at the final stage of the Qualifying School in Spain.

The 23-year old came to the 463-yard 18th at PGA Catalunya Resort’s Stadium Course sitting on the projected nine under par mark for the top 25 and ties who would secure cards.

But rather than playing safely for his par-four, he almost holed his 217-yard hybrid into the wind, eventually holing a five foot birdie putt for a sixth round 69 to finish on 10 under, earning the 17th of 27 cards eventually awarded to those on nine under or better.

“It’s brilliant,” said Florida-based Phelan, who turned professional after this year’s Walker Cup and signed with Chubby Chandler’s ISM management company. “It’s brilliant. I played really well all day, made a few silly mistakes but made up for them. I was nervous most of the day but I kind of expected it so it wasn’t too bad.

“I worked quite hard on my routine last year and it paid dividends today, big time. I just kept doing what I usually do, tried to stay in the process and just concentrate on one shot at a time.”

Kevin Phelan was full of praise for experienced tour caddie Stephen Byrne, a veteran of Q-School, for his guidance at PGA Catalunya Resort. Picture: Jenny Matthews/Golffile.ieHaving started sensationally with three birdies in his first four holes - the first, second and fourth - the former Walker Cup star three-putted the short fifth and then missed birdie chances on the next six greens before a birdie at the par-five 12th left him comfortably inside the crucial top 25 on 10 under par.

He almost chipped in for eagle there but back to back bogeys at the 13th and 14th, where he failed to get up and down both times, left him needing to play the last four holes in one under par to secure his card.

A two putt birdie at the par-five 15th got him back inside the top 25 and after solid pars at the 16th and 17th, he produced his wonder-shot at the 18th to finish with a birdie worth a share of 17th place and a place alongside the likes of Rory McIlroy on the European Tour next season.

“I had 217 yards into the wind and just hit a lovely three iron, straight at it,” Phelan said. “It was definitely one of the best shots of my career.

“All week, I tried not to think about getting my card but I will have to give it some thought now. I am really excited. It’s been a goal for a long time to play on the European Tour and I am delighted to have a chance now.”

The ony player in the field to jump from the cut line and win a card, Phelan revealed how he has been inspired by Padraig Harrington, who advised him to work hard on his short game and not to read about himself in the newspapers.

“Padraig is a big inspiration to me,” said Phelan, who was brought up near Ballygunner in Co Waterford but has lived in Florida since he was 13. “I played a practice round with him in the US Open at Pebble Beach in 2010 and in Killarney in the Irish Open and again at Carton House this year.

“I have been told a couple of times not to read anything that has been written about me. I haven’t done that in a couple of years now so I don’t really pay any attention to expectations that are put on me, just what I put on myself.

“Harrington said it to me a while ago and my coach Mark McCumber tells me all the time. It definitely helped a lot.

“I’ve always looked up to him so it was nice to get some feedback from him. I’m looking forward to joining him on the European Tour now.”

Phelan earned an exemption into next week’s Second Stage of the PGA Tour’s Web.com Q-School when he made the cut in this year’s US Open at Merion but has decided not to go now that he has his European Tour card.

It was Carlos Del Moral who took the plaudits after three successive sub-68 rounds over the Neil Coles and Angel Gallardo-designed Stadium Course and he was delighted to become the first Spanish winner of the Final Stage since Carlos Rodiles in 2006. “It feels very special to be the winner of this event,” said the 28 year old, who finished the week 26 under par. “It’s such a long week and after the year I have gone through it is a pay-off for all the hard work. “Sometimes you feel like it’s all a waste but it is showing now and hopefully I can keep up the good work for the next few weeks in South Africa and for the 2014 season.” Picture ©Getty ImagesSpain’s Carol del Moral closed with a 67 to win the top card by five strokes on 26 under par from Paraguay’s Fabrizio Zanotti but there were no final day miracles for Waterville’s David Higgins or Ulsterman Ruaidhri McGee.

Higgins shot 72 to finish nine strokes out side the qualifying mark on level par in joint 59th with McGee tied for 66th on three over after a 74.

European Tour Qualifying School Final Stage, PGA Catalunay Resort - Stadium Course Par 72, Tour Course Par 70

Final

402 C Del Moral (Esp) 67 71 69 63 65 67;

407 F Zanotti (Par) 66 70 67 68 68 68;

413 M Crespi (Ita) 71 70 67 68 67 70;

414 G Stal (Fra) 71 68 69 68 68 70;

415 M Lundberg (Swe) 69 68 70 71 66 71; A Saddier (Fra) 71 66 69 71 67 71; J Hahn (USA) 66 66 73 68 71 71;

416 C Arendell (USA) 72 70 71 65 70 68; W Ormsby (Aus) 69 67 70 69 70 71; S Manley (Wal) 68 71 67 69 69 72; J Morrison (Eng) 72 67 63 70 71 73;

417 J Heath (Eng) 69 71 70 69 69 69; S Wakefield (Eng) 69 68 67 69 75 69; J Dantorp (Swe) 66 68 68 72 73 70; B Paolini (USA) 70 71 68 64 72 72; P Sjöland (Swe) 66 72 67 67 73 72;

418 K Phelan (Irl) 73 67 68 71 70 69; A Hartø (Den) 67 70 69 72 69 71; D Brooks (Eng) 65 71 69 66 76 71; T Pieters (Bel) 64 73 72 68 68 73; L Bjerregaard (Den) 65 70 69 69 72 73;

419 J Knutzon (USA) 70 69 71 69 69 71; M Korhonen (Fin) 69 71 68 70 70 71; E Goya (Arg) 66 70 67 73 72 71; J Doherty (Sco) 68 70 66 71 73 71; A Gee (Eng) 66 70 71 69 69 74; A Forsyth (Sco) 65 70 70 69 71 74;

Players above earned European Tour status for 2014

420 T Van Der Walt (RSA) 72 69 68 71 69 71; E Kofstad (Nor) 70 68 67 72 71 72; E Espana (Fra) 62 74 69 67 74 74;

421 B Henson (USA) 71 70 70 68 73 69; C Bouniol (Fra) 73 70 71 66 71 70; J Barnes (Eng) 66 72 72 69 72 70; A McArthur (Sco) 66 73 70 73 68 71; O Wilson (Eng) 69 67 74 68 71 72; O Stark (Swe) 66 71 67 71 72 74;

422 H Leon (Chi) 68 70 70 72 71 71; D McGuigan (Sco) 71 68 71 70 70 72; R Karlberg (Swe) 66 77 72 65 69 73;

423 O Fisher (Eng) 72 69 72 67 73 70; M Grönberg (Swe) 75 67 73 66 71 71; C Hanson (Eng) 66 77 71 66 70 73; C Paisley (Eng) 67 70 70 70 71 75;

424 B Dredge (Wal) 68 71 70 68 74 73; D Im (USA) 70 73 72 64 71 74; N Quintarelli (Ita) 68 74 71 62 74 75; F Andersson Hed (Swe) 69 68 71 69 71 76;

425 A Marshall (Eng) 71 70 70 69 72 73; R Finch (Eng) 64 71 70 72 75 73; M Lafeber (Ned) 71 68 67 71 72 76;

426 M Jonzon (Swe) 64 72 70 71 76 73; A Johnston (Eng) 67 73 69 71 72 74; G Lockerbie (Eng) 72 65 67 73 75 74; A Dodt (Aus) 71 71 72 67 70 75; M Tullo (Chi) 67 70 68 71 72 78;

427 C Shinkwin (am) (Eng) 68 70 71 73 75 70; Z Scotland (Eng) 71 74 69 67 71 75; B Stone (RSA) 69 66 70 72 74 76;

428 David Higgins (Irl) 67 73 72 70 74 72; B Evans (Eng) 71 77 69 65 73 73; M Hensby (Aus) 69 77 69 67 70 76; M Lorenzo-Vera (Fra) 67 73 69 71 72 76;

429 T Lee (USA) 64 75 73 64 74 79; D Kemmer (USA) 67 70 67 72 73 80;

430 J Huldahl (Den) 72 68 70 72 73 75;

431 Ruaidhri McGee (Irl) 70 66 72 74 75 74; K Pratt (Aus) 71 66 70 75 74 75; J Lando Casanova (Fra) 76 65 69 70 72 79;

432 K Horne (RSA) 72 68 72 68 75 77;

433 L Gagli (Ita) 74 66 72 70 74 77;

435 J Elson (Eng) 64 74 72 72 73 80.