Former Chelsea soccer star Roy Wegerle has secured a place in this week's Alfred Dunhill golf championship after qualifying for the European Tour event. The South African qualified with a four-under-par 68 at the Zwartkop Country Club, two strokes off the leading qualifying score of 66 shared by Ian Kennedy and Mark Wiltshire. The event is jointly sanctioned by the southern African Sunshine Tour.
Paul McGinley will also be in the field after his plans to play in the Bob Hope Classic on the US Tour fell through. Three Irishmen were involved in a nine-way play off for just one spot. David Higgins and Paddy Gribben missed out, while Peter Lawrie is first alternate for the event.
Wegerle played for Chelsea, Queens Park Rangers, Blackburn Rovers, Coventry City and Luton Town, as well as representing the US at international level. He is the second South African to try his luck on the Sunshine Tour after making his name in another sport. Former Springbok rugby union flyhalf Lance Sherrell has just finished his first year as a professional golfer. He is currently ranked 209th in the Order of Merit.
Filed by Greg McKevitt
