Bushfoot amateur Owen Crooks is just one stroke off the lead after the opening round of the 54-hole PGA EuroPro Tour Qualifying School Final Stage.

He opened with a five-under 67 on the Blue Course at Frilford Heath to share third place behind England’s Harry Konig and Robert Harrhy with Neil O’Brian (69) Naas’ Conor O’Rourke (70) the next best of the Irish.

While all players who qualified for the Final Stage are guaranteed some status, the top 80 and ties who make today’s second round cut will earn Category 10 membership with the top 30 tomorrow earning Category 3 status.

PGA Europro Tour Qualifying School Final Stage, Frilford Heath (Blue and Red)

Scores

T3 Owen Crooks (a) [BC] Bushfoot 67; 
T18 Neil O’Briain [BC] 69
T29 Conor O'Rourke [RC] Naas 70 
T43 Peter Williamson [RC] Woodcote Park 71, Luke Donnelly [RC] PGA Catalunya 71; 
T61 Joe Dillon [BC] Headfort 72, Daniel Brennan [RC] Shannon 72; 
T94 Cameron Raymond [BC] St. Anne's 73; 
T123 Adam Dunmore [BC] Bundoran 74, Michael Dallat [BC] 74;  
T147 Damian Mooney [BC] 75;
T174 John Hickey [RC] Cork 76; 
T213 Declan Loftus [RC] 78; 
T231 Stephen Grant [BC] Mount Juliet 81.