While there were plenty of players who got off to a flashier start, Justin Harding would have been well pleased with his opening five-under-par 66 on Friday in the first round of six in the marathon DP World Tour’s Qualifying School Final Stage in Spain.
Harding made six birdies and a bogey as he kickstarted his campaign to regain his DP World Tour card after over a year in the wilderness with injury and returning from that. At the end of the six rounds – there is a cut after 72 holes on both the Lakes and Hills courses at Infinitum Golf in Tarragona – the top 20 players and ties will earn their 2025 playing privileges.
Harding was in a share of 17th after the first 18 holes of 108, and he was five strokes off the torrid pace set by France’s Felix Mory, who had two eagles and six birdies in his opening 10-under-par 61. Lukas Nemecz was on nine-under in second.
Neil Schietekat opened with a three-under-par 68 for a share of 35th, and would also be well pleased with the fact that he dropped just one shot in his round which included four birdies.
Jonathan Broomhead, the most recent winner on the Sunshine Tour, battled the effects two bogeys and a double, but his eagle and four birdies kept him in red figures at two-under-par.
George Coetzee and JC Ritchie were on one-under after the first round, while Wilco Nienaber, Rupert Kaminski and Justin Walters will all look to get progressively better after their respective opening one-over 72s.
