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PGA Catalunya welcomes European Tour Qualifying School

Monday, 30 November 2009
Michael Weston
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PGA Catalunya's Tour and Stadium Courses host European Tour Qualifying School

PGA Catalunya Resort, home of the 2009 Spanish Open, welcomes back PGA European Tour Qualifying School Final Stage for the second successive year.

The finale of the three-stage event, which sees 156 players battle for playing privileges on the European Tour in 2010 (the top 30 plus ties qualify), will be contested over six rounds on both the Tour and Stadium courses at the acclaimed 36-hole resort near Girona, north of Barcelona.

Both courses will provide a fitting venue for the nerve-jangling, season-closing contest to win cards for the lucrative Race to Dubai with young hopefuls, including Golf Monthly's touring professional Sam Hutsby, the 2009 Amateur Championship finalist, joining European Tour champions Emanuele Canonica, Ryder Cup player Joakim Haegmann of Sweden and veteran Spaniard Santiago Luna.

Designed by Neil Coles and Angel Gallardo, PGA Catalunya Resort has a rich pedigree as a European Tour venue. Originally built by the Tour to host a Ryder Cup, it opened in 1999, hosting the Sarazen World Open won by Thomas Bjorn in the same year, and then the Spanish Open in 2000.

In May 2009, the Stadium Course once again hosted the Spanish Open, featuring John Daly, Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie and Frenchman Thomas Levet, the eventual winner.

Billy O'Sullivan, CEO of PGA Catalunya Resort, said: "It is an honour to be selected to host European Tour Qualifying School Final Stage for the second successive year and we look forward to welcoming all the players. Both courses are in outstanding condition and will provide a great test of golf."

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