Shropshire golf stars get boost for DP World Tour hopes
Shropshire golfers Ashley Chesters and Oliver Farr have been handed a boost in their quest to retain a DP World Tour card.
Chesters from Shrewsbury and Farr, who plays out of Burghill Valley, are both attempting to return to the DP World Tour through the Challenge Tour after losing their playing rights last year.
Chesters is currently 21st in the rankings heading to the Grand Final in Mallorca next month with Farr one spot behind in 22nd.
It is usually the top 20 players who qualify from the Challenge Tour, however, the duo, who have previously spent a number of years competing on the DP World Tour have been handed a boost.
Alex Fitzpatrick, brother of Ryder Cup and US Open winner Matt, is currently ninth on the Challenge Tour but 77th in the rankings on the DP World Tour, putting him well inside the cut-off point. It is looking likely that the top 116 players in those rankings will be given playing rights for next season.
If that is the case, then it will be the top 21 players from the Challenge Tour who gain a DP card, giving Chesters and Farr a better chance of securing one in Mallorca.
If Chesters and Farr do succeed in the season finale then it could mean a potential three pronged Shropshire contingent on next year’s DP World Tour, with Telford’s Will Enefer currently 12th in the rankings. He leapt up three places from 15th following a tied eighth finish at the Swiss Challenge and a tied third finish at the recent Hainan Open.
