Eleven months ago, South Africa’s Jean Hugo, Ulrich van den Bergh and Justin Walters survived the weeklong pressure-packed and mind-draining examination of the Final Stage Qualifier to book their cards for the 2016 European Tour.
They thought the world was their oyster, but life in the paid ranks is tough.
So, while Walters is inching ever closer to the leaders on day two of the European Tour’s Turkish Airlines Open, Hugo is all the way across the continent in Spain where he will have to do it all over again.
Hugo didn’t finish the season inside the top 110, so it’s back to the drawing board for the 18-time Sunshine Tour champion, who heads up a strong South African cast of 14 players that will start the Second Stage Qualifiers across four golf courses today.
Hugo joins Erik van Rooyen, fellow Sunshine Tour champion Merrick Bremner and Jake Roos – a double winner on the European Challenge Tour – at Campo de Golf El Saler.
Jaco Ahlers – a two-time Sunshine Tour winner this season – leads the Lumenrock Sports Management International crew that includes Louis de Jager, Rhys West and Rourke van der Spuy.
West is teeing it up with Bryce Easton and Thriston Lawrence at Lumine Golf and Beach Club in Spain, while Ahlers, De Jager and Van der Spuy will navigate 72 holes at the Panoramica Golf and Sport Resort.
Sunshine Tour champion Oliver Bekker and former IGT Tour winner Michael Palmer will be in the mix at the Las Colinas Golf and Country Club alongside Darren Lloyd and Matthiam Keyser.
By Lali Stander