Gareth earns his card

Gareth (27), a former member of Lurgan Golf Club and a past pupil of Kings Park Primary, Lurgan Junior High and Lurgan College, finished second at the Masters 13 Allianz Golf Tournament which was enough to earn him his European Challenge Tour card for 2013.

A brilliant final round of 66 on Sunday at Golf de Point Royal, Marseille, was enough to secure second spot and give the local man another crack at the demanding but rewarding circuit.

“It feels great,” Gareth revealed to the Mail from Spain. “Going into last week my goal was to remain number one on the Alps Tour. So to achieve that and almost win the final tournament was great.

“Obviously I was disappointed to lose by a single shot but I was really happy with my effort in the final round. In that final round I hit 17 greens and was keeping the ball in play very well. I also managed to hole some nice putts. I actually played the par 4’s 7 under and had 10 3’s on my scorecard.”

Gareth, who is in Valencia playing the European Tour school stage 2 which started on Wednesday, was on the European Challenge Tour from 2009 to 2011.

“It means a lot to get back my challenge tour card for 2013. I have had slow progress since turning pro in 2008, but now feel I have the correct people around me that I can start climbing the ladder towards the European Tour pretty fast.”

Gareth is hoping the form that won him the Alps Tour Order of Merit will continue at the Campo de Golf El Saler course over the next few days.