Kris earns his tour place
11:00am Friday 2nd May 2008
BURGHILL Valley Golf Club’s Kris Jones has secured his place on the prestigious PGA Europro Tour.
Jones battled his way through a field of more than 400 professional golfers to achieve a category eight for the European tour. He will now be able to schedule any event for the season and is guaranteed his start on the tour which is a leading development event in Europe.
Sky Sports covers the tour, which takes in Scotland, Ireland, Spain and Portugal.
Jones got through pre-qualifying comfortably finishing in ninth-place at the Bristol Players Club and entered the final qualifying stage at Frilford Heath, Oxfordshire.
A total of 240 regional qualifiers played the blue and red courses in cold and windy conditions.
Only 120 players made it through to the third and final day.
Jones finished equal 83rd after a three-day total of 12 over and improved on his position from last year by 120 places.
It was a great achievement for the young player who delayed his 21st birthday celebrations.
His dad, Alan Jones, explained: “Kris was 21 on the first day of qualifying at Bristol Players Club so he withheld from the usual celebrations until after his final qualifying the following week.” Jones turned professional only two years ago and is delighted at having secured his place on the tour.
He said: “The competition was tough and I am delighted with the final outcome against my fellow professionals with many having more years’ experience than me.”