Player Profile: European Tour – Top Qualifying School Players Prepare for 2015

The European Tour’s 2014 season officially ended last week, with Sweden’s Henrik Stenson winning the season-ending DP World Tour title in Dubai.

As the 2015 season beckons, a number of talented players have obtained their Tour cards after completing their Qualifying School tournaments – this week’s player profile takes a look at some of the talented new players who will be making their debut next season.

QS 2014 – A wave of new talent

At 924, the total number of entrants in this season’s Q School was the fourth-highest in European Tour history. Through three stages of gruelling competition, 27 top players were awarded Tour cards for the 2015 Race to Dubai – let’s meet the top three Q School players.

#1 - Mikko Korhonen – Finland

34-year-old Korhonen brings a little more experience to the Tour than some of his younger competitors. After turning professional at 24, he weathered a decade of golfing challenges on the Nordic and Challenge Tours to place first at the European Tour’s Q School in mid-November.

#2 – Ricardo Gonzalez – Argentina

Ricardo is no stranger to the European Tour, having won four ET events since his professional debut in 1986 – before some of his competitors in Q School were born. The 45-year old Argentinian is back from a period of absence on the Tour, and is sure to liven up the course in 2015.

#3 – Renato Paratore – Italy

At 17, Renato Paratore brings youthful energy and ambition to his first season on the European Tour. A native of Rome, Paratore has competed successfully at several events, winning a gold medal at the Youth Olympics in China earlier this year.

Like his mentor Matteo Manassero, who made the cut at the US Masters before his 17th birthday, Paratore is set to be Italy’s latest young contender on the European Tour.

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