Tie at the top at Q School

Michael Vandenberg (Rochford Hundred) holed out for eagle from almost 150 yards at Essex Golf and Country Club on his way to sharing top spot with Gary Carter (Five Lakes) at the region’s second Qualifying School.

Vandenberg, 38, made a two on the 470-yard par-4 third. The hole played the hardest of any over the two days but Vandenberg mastered it with a sublime 9-iron, providing him with the platform to push on.

In the end, he was the only player to break par in the second round, finishing with a two-under 71. That display was good enough to pull him up alongside first-round leader Carter, who began with his own 71 before adding a 77.

Both players ended up at two-over-par, a stroke clear of Samuel Teer (Clacton. Joshua Johnson (Bishop’s Stortford), Andrew George (Ely City), Matt Spencer (Mill Green), Samuel Maltby (The Grove), Ben Talbot (Marriott Hanbury Manor) and Craig Housden were all tied for fourth at five-over.

Conditions were very cold on the first day, underlined by a frost delay. A persistent bitter breeze also meant that it was hard to score over the two days.

Vandenberg said: “I’ve just been trying to put a little bit more work into my game and it feels like it’s coming round. I’ve hit some good shots over the two days – I holed a 9-iron from 147 yards, to be precise.

“I’d never played the course before but playing it the second time around I knew some of the lines off the tee better and felt more comfortable over some of the shots. I really liked the course, actually.”

Vandenberg is planning to play three of the four Order of Merit events in 2017, having had to miss the series last year due to the birth of his baby daughter last July.

Carter, 51, has long been a solid golfer in the East and showed that with some good stuff over the two days. He racked up eight birdies in his 36 holes.

Carter said: “I played really well the first round– not so well the second. But overall, I’m pleased.

“I have played quite a lot more this winter than I ever have because the weather has been decent.

“I’ve certainly been practising more and I’m probably a little bit further ahead. The Senior PGA Professional Championship at Foxhills is coming up, so I’m looking forward to that. I played it last year and it’s a good event.”

Carter expects to play in all of the Order of Merit tournaments, which start with the London Open at West Essex on June 14-15.