Former European Tour Winner Warren Bennet Wins EuroPro Q-School Event
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Warren Bennett finished top of the PGA EuroPro Tour Qualifying School Final Stage leaderboard on 17-under-par for 54 holes as he plots a return to the European Tour.
The 41-year-old shot a final round 69 on the par-72 Blue Course at Frilford Heath Golf Club in Oxfordshire, following up a 67 on the Red Course on Wednesday and an outstanding 63 on Thursday. He won by four shots from James Frazer, who carded a final-round 64.
Former Walker Cup star Stiggy Hodgson and Spaniard Sebastian Garcia Grout finished the tournament tied third on 12-under.
Bennett won the Scottish PGA Championship in 1999 but retired his European Tour card ten years later after a series of injuries and is now hoping to work his way back to the top.
“I have the will to want to try and get back to the European Tour,” said the 41-year-old after his final round at Frilford Heath.
“When I stepped away from golf I missed it too much so I decided last year to make a good plan to try and get back. It was a massive disappointment not to get my card at European Tour Qualifying at the end of last year so it has been a long winter but I am on the right lines.
“I don’t have any routes towards the main tour so this year my minimum aim is to get into the EuroPro Tour top five to earn my Challenge Tour card.
“I want to get as much competitive golf in as possible. My second round here was lovely, the ball striking, the putting, it felt really good and it was the first time in 15 years I have really gone out there and performed. The final round was a bit scrappy but I got the job done and I am feeling really good so onward and upward hopefully.”
The best final round was recorded by Frazer (Pennard Golf Club) who took 64 with six birdies and an eagle at eight. Hodgson (Wisley GC) carded a final-round 65 to finish twelve-under-par, tied with Garcia Grout (Golf de Poniente) who shot a 68 on the last day at Frilford Heath.
The top-30 at Qualifying School, those with 54-hole scores of five-under-par or better, are awarded category three status on the 2013 PGA EuroPro Tour. The first event of the season is the Motocaddy Masters which gets underway at Wensum Valley Hotel, Golf and Country Club on April 30th.
