18 November 2019: SSP Chawrasia is showing remarkable consistency in his quest for a European Tour card. Playing the final stage of qualifying school at the Lumine Golf Club in Spain, the 41-year-old produced a hole-in-one in making a stellar 67 in the fourth round of this six round marathon. Chawrasia in lying T2 with Jinho Choi and Sami Valimaki, three strokes behind the leader Benjamin Poke.
Scores of 69-66-71-67 put Chawrasia right up the order at 13-under through 72 holes. The event will end on Wednesday, with the top 25 guaranteed a full card on the European Tour. The Indian’s exemption on the European Tour ended this year.
Hurly Long, Nicolai von Dellingshausen and Marcel Schneider, Toby Tree, Marcus Armitage, and Adrien Saddier share fifth place on 12 under par.
The fourth round resulted in a cut, with the blade falling at 4-under, leaving out 79 of the 156 starters. The remaining 77 shall battle through the final two rounds for a shot at a life on the European Tour. As it is, all the men that made the cut as assured full status on the European Challenge Tour. The top 25 and ties after six rounds will receive status on the main tour. The remaining two rounds shall be played on the Lakes Course.
Chawrasia made a hole-in-one on the par-3 fourth hole of the Lakes Course. The event this week alternates between the Lakes Course and Hills Course. He also made four birdies to help mitigate the two bogeys he suffered during the course of the fourth round.
Poke, who took charge at the end of the second day, has held on to his overnight advantage of three strokes after making a bogey-free 67. He made two birdies in his final three holes to remain well clear of the field.
“The conditions were a bit calmer but I still started off a bit slower, like I did yesterday,” Poke said. “I just kept hitting fairways and greens but missed a few greens around five and six and managed to scramble in nicely, which kept the momentum going a bit.
“I’ve not given where I finish much thought, to be honest. Obviously, it’s a goal for everyone but I feel like I’ve got nothing to lose really. I’m just going do my best and see what happens.”
Chawrasia has found the Lakes Course to his liking this week. In two rounds so far, he has collected ten birdies and an eagle while conceding three bogeys, two of them on Monday.
