Tour News (posted 17th September 1998)

Rose qualifies for tour school

Maidstone, England  - Justin Rose only has one more chance to qualify automatically for a European Tour card, but the 18-year-old kept his options open Thursday by qualifying for tour school.

Rose turned pro immediately after his surprising tie for fourth place in July's Open Championship. But in his first six tournaments as a pro, he's missed the cut each time.

He has one more tournament, next week's German Masters, to earn about £55,000 needed to jump into the top 116 on the European Tour, which would entitle him to a tour card next year.

The only other way to qualify for a card is through a tour school in Spain in November. But even qualifying for the school is difficult.

Rose needed a top-10 finish at Chart Hills Golf Club -- located south of London -- to qualify for the school. He finished ninth, just making it with a 5-under-par 67 in the closing round for a 215 total.

"Today things went for me, when before luck hasn't always been on my side since I turned pro," said Rose.