Atwal on the verge of qualifying

Arjun Atwal returned a fifth round score of two-under 70 to occupy the tied-39th position in the penultimate round of the final stage of the European PGA Tour Q-School.

Arjun thus tallied four-under 356 for five rounds in the six-round final stage being played at the San Rogue Club & Real Club de Golf Sotogrande in southern Spain.

The top 35 players will make it to the Category–11 exemption on the European PGA Tour, which would give them playing privilege throughout the 2002 season.

Atwal needs a consistent closing round to earn himself a full exemption on the prestigious European PGA Tour. The only other Indian to qualify for the Tour is Hero Honda-sponsored Jeev Milkha Singh, who has been a regular there since 1998.

Chandigarh’s Amandeep Johl, the other Indian in the Q-School, missed the cut applied at one-over 289 after the fourth round. The SAIL-sponsored Johl finished 113th with a tally of five-over 293.

The tournament was led by David Park of Wales. Park currently tallies an impressive 17-under 343, courtesy a fifth round 69.