Relief for Daniel Gavins but agony for Chris Hanson and Joe Dean in race to join European Tour

Golfer Daniel Gavins is back on the European Tour (Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe)

One Yorkshire golfer was celebrating a return to the European Tour last night, but there was heartache for two of his fellow county players.

Daniel Gavins is back on continent’s elite circuit after securing a place in the top 25 after six gruelling rounds of the European Tour’s Qualifying School Final Stage.

Gavins, 27, of Leeds, led the competition after rounds three and four before closing scores of 73 and 71 saw him fall down the leaderboard into a tie for 13th, although it was enough to secure his Tour status by two shots.

He tweeted: “It’s been a tough few years but we’re back on the European Tour.”

Huddersfield’s Chris Hanson was due to join him after five rounds but he shot a 74 at Lumine in Spain yesterday, dropping from a share of 10th into a tie for 37th, two shots outside the mark.

“Tough one to take but will try move on quickly!! Game not solid enough when it matters...” tweeted Hanson, who has spent the last three years on Tour.

He was even passed by Sheffield’s Joe Dean whose final-round 67 saw him climb up to 28th and within a shot of graduating to the top tier.