Waring joins Slattery in elite

Nov 21 2007 by Richard Williamson, Liverpool Daily Post

PAUL WARING will tee up alongside Europe’s elite golfers – just three months after turning professional.

And Lee Slattery is to make an immediate return to the European Tour after losing his card by less than £50 at the end of the 2007 season.

Both players successfully survived the daunting six-round examination at the European Tour qualifying school final at San Roque to claim one of the coveted 30 Tour cards on offer.

For former England international Waring, from Bromborough, it completes a dramatic rise through the professional ranks after turning pro in August.

Already assured of a place on the second tier Challenge Tour after securing his playing rights in just six events, Waring moved a step higher after finishing in a tie for 22nd.

The Wirral golfer had been 102nd after day one but rounds of 74 70 72 70 68 75 saw him finish on a three under par 429.

Formby Hall’s Slattery roared back onto the main tour by finishing second overall in Spain. He refused to let a second day 76 derail him and finished with rounds of 69 76 72 64 70 72 for a nine under par total of 423.

“It is such a relief,” said Slattery. “I didn’t look at missing the card by 77 euros, it was one place on the Order of Merit, that’s all that mattered. I feel I belong on The European Tour and it is good to bounce straight back.”

Martin Wiegele led the 30 qualifiers after a final day 76 gave the Austrian a six-round aggregate of 11-under 421.