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18 November, 2008

Doak Wins Tour Card

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Tartan Tour number one Chris Doak has capped a hugely successful season by winning his European Tour card.

The 30-year-old, who triumphed in last month's Srixon PGA Play-Offs, earned one of 32 prized cards after a day of high drama on the last day of qualifying school at PGA Golf de Catalunya in Girona, Spain.

Top marks went to Oskar Henningsson who claimed the title with a 21 under par total to take the title by four shots from Australia's Wade Ormsby and Spain's Carlos Del Moral.

The Swede, who is the first man to come through all three stages and win the Final Stage, said: "It's a fantastic feeling to achieve this. It has been my main goal for the whole season, so to come here and actually win the Final Stage is amazing. I didn't really think about winning the tournament, which is really a bonus, but it feels great.

"To be the first guy to win the Qualifying School coming through all three stages in a great achievement, and it will give me a lot confidence going into the new season. I feel well prepared to go out on the main Tour and make an impression, so I'm delighted to have earned my card."

Henningsson's joy was shared by amongst others England's John Mellor, who leapt into the top 30 on the back of a round of 68, which was bettered only by a 67 from Ireland's Michael Hoey, who will join him in The Race to Dubai.

Mellor, who has suffered with a series of injuries in recent years, said: "I'm delighted, especially given everything I've been through in the last couple of years. It makes it all worthwhile, and shows that I do still belong out here."

Amongst the players who scraped through on six under par was Italy's Federico Colombo, who only turned professional last week.

Colombo was one of eight players to emerge successfully through all three rounds. As well as Colombo, Henningsson and Doak, Northern Ireland starlet Jonathan Caldwell, Scottish amateur sensation Callum Macaulay, Sweden's Ake Nilsson, and rising stars Danny Willet and Chris Wood.

Willett said: "It feels good - very good. I've played pretty scrappily over the past two days, but I've got myself a European Tour card, which is what I came here for. I'm looking forward to a few days off, because it's been a long couple of weeks. Then I'll get down to some serious practice in preparation for the two events in South Africa before Christmas."

Wood, the winner of the Silver Medal at this year's Open Championship, added: "I've worked really hard for this so I feel like I deserve everything I've achieved, but this does cap a pretty amazing year for me. I wouldn't swap The Open for this or this for The Open - I would take both!"