Last year, the German earned his European Tour card by tying for 19th place in the six-round final stage tournament.
And on Thursday, the former Buff nearly duplicated that showing by tying for 18th on Thursday as Q-school wrapped up in Tarragona, Spain.
Although Heisele already had some status on the European Tour guaranteed with his performance on that circuit in 2016-17 (141st on money list) and by finishing 16th on the European Challenge Tour money list, he improved his status slightly by placing among the top 25 players and ties in Q-school.
Heisele (pictured) finished with a bang in order to move into the top 25 after being in 43rd place going into Thursday. He closed with a 6-under-par 65 — making birdie on his 18th hole — to check in at 14-under 414. That was one better than what was needed to get into the top 25, but three shy of getting into the top 10, which would have further improved Heisele’s 2017-18 tour status.
Heisele, who played at CU from 2008 through ’11, shot a 5-under-par 31 on his front nine on Thursday and finished with seven birdies and one bogey. His round-by-round went 72-67-70-70-70-65.
After finishing up on Thursday, Heisele tweeted:
“2016: Final Round 67 to get out on @EuropeanTour
2017: Final Round 65 to stay out on @EuropeanTour
Call me the pressure Juggernaut.”
Englishman Sam Horsfield was the Q-school medalist at 27-under 401 after a final-round 63.
For all the scores from the final stage of European Tour Q-school, CLICK HERE.
Heisele dropped into a tie for 43rd place after Wednesday’s fifth round of the 108-hole tournament in Tarragona, Spain. The top 25 finishers and ties after Thursday’s sixth round will earn tour cards for next season, and to significantly improve his status, Heisele will need to place in the top 10.
On Wednesday, the German shot his third straight round of 70, leaving him at 8-under-par 349 overall. That leaves him three strokes out of the top 25, five out of the top 10, and 11 behind leader Sam Horsfield of England.
Heisele made four birdies and three bogeys in Wednesday’s round.
Heisele, who played at CU from 2008 through ’11, already has limited status on the European Tour next season by virtue of finishing 141st on the 2016-17 money list.
For all the scores from the final stage of European Tour Q-school, CLICK HERE.
This week is no exception.
A little more than a week ago, when the top 15 players on the European Challenge Tour’s season-long money list earned European Tour cards for 2018, Heisele finished 16th.
And now, with just two rounds remaining in the final stage of European Tour Q-school in Tarragona, Spain, Heisele is once again on the bubble. With the top 25 finishers and ties after Thursday’s sixth round earning exempt status for next season, Heisele shares — you guessed it — 25th place. And to significantly improve his status for next season, the former Buff will need to finish in the top 10.
The German, who placed No. 141 on the 2017 European Tour money list after successfully negotiating Q-school a year ago, has posted rounds of 72-67-70-70 through Tuesday’s fourth round, leaving him at 7-under-par 279. Heisele trails leader Sam Horsfield by eight strokes and is three shots out of 10th place.
Heisele made six birdies and five bogeys in Tuesday’s fourth round. He’s carded 20 birdies through four rounds.
For all the scores from the final stage of European Tour Q-school, CLICK HERE.