Meet the 18-year-old amateur who has bagged a DP World Tour card
Josh Berry cruised through the second stage of Q-school and now he has earned a DP World Tour card in 2024 after aceing the final stage…
What were you doing when you were 18?
The answer probably includes drinking alcohol, a part-time job or taking exams.
Amateur Josh Berry is frying bigger fish after earning his way onto Europe’s biggest golf stage.
The teenager from Doncaster tied for 17th at DP World Tour Q-school at Infinitum after 108 lung-bursting holes.
The top 25 and ties earned a coveted spot on the DP World Tour, a schedule set to dish out $117 million in prize money in 2024.
Berry’s 71 on Tuesday was his worst score of the final stage – a testament to the standard that helped him reach 15-under-par through six gruelling rounds.
“It was quite breezy today, and I didn’t quite strike the ball as well as I have been,” he told NCG in Spain when reflecting on that penultimate round. “I grinded away and it just wasn’t today.
“It’s been a great experience just to mix in with the professionals and play some good golf, so it’s been really good and I’ve really enjoyed it.
Josh Berry: ‘I’ve kept it going and I’ve had the momentum’
“I played well in second stage, so I knew my game was good enough. But yeah, I got off to a really nice start on the first day (of final stage) by shooting four-under-par and I’ve kept it going and I’ve had the momentum.”
His game in the second stage of Q-school was exemplary, finishing second behind Denmark’s Hamish Brown and being the only player to card four rounds in the 60s at Fontanals Golf Club.
The dream has now become a reality. Berry carded a final-round 70 to seal the deal and earn his stripes in Europe next year. He was the only amateur to win a card.
His form in that sphere this year justified his confidence.
Berry came third at the North of England Open Amateur Championship and at the English Men’s Amateur Championship, as well as playing for his country alongside fellow starlets Frank Kennedy and John Gough against Spain in May.
Impressive finishes at the Lytham Trophy and the Carris Trophy led to Berry entering the promised land before his 19th birthday.
The plan is to turn professional after this week. I asked Berry how he rated his season in 2023:
“Pretty good (season) now, now I’ve played well this week! (he said laughing) You’ve always got it in the back of your mind that you’re playing Q-school, so it’s amateur golf and you’re more up for it this week.”
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Matt Chivers
Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.
Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.
Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.
Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spent time with some of the biggest names in the sport.
Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.
What’s in Matt’s bag: Cobra LTDx LS driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, TaylorMade P7MC irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.
