Smart effort by Dubai amateur Mills

Dubai: UAE-based amateur golfer John Mills has qualified for the final stages of the European Senior Tour Qualifying School in the Algarve, Portugal.

Mills, who is a member of the Arabian Ranches Golf Club, shot a second round 76 for a 36 hole total of 148 at Pinheiros Altos Golf Club, Portugal to book his ticket to the Algrave.

Mills finished a creditable tied 12th having been tied 5th overnight.

It is the eighth consecutive year that the Senior Tour Qualifying School has taken place on the Algarve. A total of 62 players have progressed from Stage One qualify for the 72 hole Final Stage Qualifying along with 17 exempt players for an adjusted 79 player field at Pestana Golf Resorts (Pinta Course) again in the Algarve, Portugal.

Open to all

The tournament will be held from November 17-20. All players within 8 shots of the leader play in the final fourth round with no cut after 36 holes. The scores for the Stage One Qualifying are now discarded.

The winning score at Mills' qualifying course was by Canadian professional Graham Gunn with rounds of 72 and 70 for a 2 under par total.

Mills finished tied leading amateur with first round leader Stephen East (England).

The qualifying score at Pinheiros Altos was 153 and at Quinta de Cima Golf was 151. Mills intends to remain an amateur during at least the Qualifying Stages and is therefore under the rules not eligible for any prize money.

The Quinta de Cima Golf winner was professional Chris Williams (South Africa) with a 5 under total of 72 and 67.

The European Senior Tour Qualifying School 2009 is open to all male golfers who are 50 years of age on or before Friday 11th September, 2009 - both golf professionals and amateurs holding a handicap of 1 or lower.

It is the eighth consecutive year that the Senior Tour Qualifying School has taken place on the Algarve.