16 Scots set for DP World Tour Q-School second stage test in Spain

Sixteen Scots are heading to four venues in Spain next week for the latest stage in the battle for DP World Tour cards in 2024.

Michael Stewart, pictured with caddie Stuart Muir during this year's Open, is among the Scots teeing up in the second stage of the DP World Tour Q-School in Spain. Picture: Tom Russo/The Scotsman.

Eleven of those flying the Saltire in the second stage have already cleared the first hurdle by passing phase one tests around Europe over the past few weeks.

They are now set to be joined by five players who fell short of extending their Challenge Tour campaigns through to next week’s Grand Final in Mallorca.

The four second stage tests are taking place at Golf Las Pinaillas in Albacete, Desert Springs in Almeria, Isla Canela Links in Huelva and Fontanals in Girona.

In the same week his older brother Craig will be playing in the Challenge Tour Grand Final, Darren Howie will be hoping to progress at Golf Las Pinaillas, where he’s set to be joined by Ryan Lumsden, Eric McIntosh and Callum Bruce.

Jack McDonald, meanwhile, will be hoping to feed off the confidence he’ll have gained from making the cut in nine of his 12 Challenge Tour starts this year as he lines up at Desert Springs along with Daniel Young, Sam Locke and Callum McNeill.

In his first full season in the paid ranks, Sandy Scott held his own on the PGA Tour Latinoamerica before also producing some strong performances on both the DP World Tour and Challenge Tour.

His sights are now set on securing a full DP World Tour card for next season and the Nairn man will be hoping to shine at Isla Canela Links along with James Ross and Oliver Roberts.

Michael Stewart, who played in all four rounds in this year’s Open at Royal Liverpool, is among those heading for Fontanals, as is Liam Johnston, a two-time Challenge Tour winner in Spain. Also playing at that venue are Gavin Hay, Calum Fyfe and Kieran Cantley.Scottish-born Australian Connor McKinney is in the Las Pinaillas line up while Rhys Thompson, this year’s Tartan Pro Tour Order of Merit winner, is playing at Isla Canela.

Others hoping to make it to the six-round final at Infinitum Golf in Tarragona the week after next include 2007 Scottish Open champion Gregory Havret and former Dunhill Links champion Lucas Bjerregaard.

LIV Golf player Laurie Canter is playing as well after losing his DP World Tour ranking this season while Irishman Alex Maguire, who won this year’s St Andrews Links Trophy by five shots, will be aiming to back up his success against the pros in the first stage.