Friday 20 November 2015 13:47, UK
Former Ryder Cup winner Edoardo Molinari and Walker Cup star Paul Dunne were among the players to progress from the European Tour's qualifying school.
Dunne, who held a share of the lead after three rounds of the Open at St Andrews, ended the six-day marathon at PGA Catalunya Resort on 10 under to secure his European Tour playing card for 2016.
Even world No 3 Rory McIlroy was impressed with Dunne's achievement when asked after his second round of the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
McIlroy said: "Backing up his performance at The Open and then having all these high expectations to go into Q-School over six rounds and get it done and get a Tour card for next year is awfully impressive. It's great to see."
The Irishman was one of 27 players to progress in Girona on Thursday, where Molinari, part of Europe's winning Ryder Cup side in 2010, needed a final-round 69 to sneak through by one stroke.
Ulrich van den Berg, Adrian Otaegui and Daniel Im were crowned joint-winners after ending the week on 18 under, with Ross McGowan and Jean Hugo a further three shots back.
"It was a long, hard slog for a 40-year-old today," Van den Berg said. "I last did this Q-School in 2007 and I got through then, but I forgot how difficult it is.
"After I last got my card, I started 2008 very nicely but unfortunately my dad got pancreatic cancer so I decided to quit The European Tour after about eight events and sat with him until he passed away.
"I got a medical exemption in 2009 but I was a broken man that year. I haven't been back since and this is my first time here since then so it's a great moral victory for me."
Englishman Matthew Southgate, who was diagnosed with testicular cancer in July, ended the day in tears after he booked his spot with a sixth-placed finish, while Richard McEvoy and Jason Scrivener both regained their paces on the European Tour.
Southgate underwent surgery to remove cancerous cells in July which ruled him out of the game for two months. His two-year-old niece is also batting leukaemia.
"What's going on at home is very tough, but to be able to put a smile on my family's face, you just can't beat that," Southgate said.
"I've matured a lot through my situation, through the cards I have been dealt, but I've always been a fighter, and to get to the top level of golf again is absolutely fantastic. I am over the moon."
