Tour cards secured

22 year-old Irishman Paul Dunne secured his 2016 European Tour card yesterday as he tied 13th at the final qualifier in Girona, Spain.

Dunne finished 10 under par with a final level par round of 72 at the PGA Catalunya Resort.

This caps an eventful year for Dunne, who shared the lead at this year’s Open Championship after three rounds, before failing away to finish tied 30th.

England's Matthew Southgate, diagnosed with testicular cancer this summer, also booked his card by finishing sixth.

England’s Ross McGowan secured his Tour return as he shared fourth spot on 15 under despite a closing 74. Fellow compatriots David Dixon and Richard McEvoy regained their places with joint ninth place on 11 under.

Ireland's former China Open winner Damien McGrane tied for 54th, slipping from 18th overnight with a six-over-par 78 to finish on two under par, and missed out.

County Down-based Simon Thornton also missed out after a closing 71 left him sharing 60th on one under, while Kevin Phelan was a further stroke back after a final-round 72.

Spaniard Adrian Otaegui, American Daniel Im and South Africa's Ulrich Van Den Berg topped the qualifiers on 18 under after six rounds.

Italy's 2010 Ryder Cup player Edoardo Molinari will join brother Francesco on the Tour next season after a closing 69 - featuring four birdies in the last eight holes - earned him a share of 24th.