WILTSHIRE golfers Matt Mumford and Ben Loughrey are through to the final stage of qualifying school for the 2016 PGA EuroPro Tour after the opening stages concluded on Thursday.

The duo from the Wrag Barn club, near Highworth, both finished among the 22 qualifiers from the Players’ Club, near Bath, one of six courses to host a 36-hole first stage event this week.

Loughrey’s four-over-par round of 74, added to his opening-round 69 on Wednesday, saw him finish tied-third at the event.

Mumford, the first round leader after a 67 on Wednesday, slumped to a nine-over-par 80 today, but still finished inside the cut.

Ben Hayward, of the Cumberwell Park club, near Bradford on Avon, is one of the alternates after finishing on seven-over-par in total for his two rounds.

Clubmate Will Brown was a further three shots back, with Wrag Barn’s Kendle McCrossan finishing on 14-over-par.

Among the qualifiers from Chart Hills Golf Club was former Premier League footballer Jimmy Bullard (The Wisley), who was one of six players who came through an eight-man play-off having finished the tournament four-over-par for their 36 holes.

Final Stage Qualifying School takes place at Frilford Heath Golf Club in Oxfordshire next week, where 240 players will play one round on each the Red and Blue Courses over Wednesday and Thursday before a cut to the leading 80 players, who play a concluding 18 holes on the Blue Course on Friday.

Players are competing to earn the highest possible category on the 2016 HotelPlanner.com PGA EuroPro Tour.

All those progressing to Final Stage will earn at least a category 14, with golfers making the Final Stage cut earning a minimum category 10 and the top 30 earning category three.