GOOD friends Matthew Southgate and Richard McEvoy are celebrating after earning their European Tour cards for next season.

The pair, who are both members of Thorpe Hall Golf Club, came through six rounds of Qualifying School at the PGA Catalunya Club in Spain yesterday and for Southgate, in particular, it was an emotional moment.

The 27-year-old has endured a difficult year after being diagnosed with testicular cancer in July while his two-year-old niece Hattie Seymour has been battling leukaemia in Great Ormond Street hospital.

It made coming through Qualifying School for the third time his most special yet.

“It’s been a really tough year this year for me and my family so it means the world to go home with a card.

“I think a lot of golfers would understand it – your health and your family and all of those things in your life are just like golf. Things don’t go your way all the time, sometimes you do have a double or you do have to chip it out.

“That’s really where I feel like I’m at with my little life – I feel like I’ve had to hack it out sideways and start again. Somehow I’ve managed to get it back on track and I’m incredibly lucky for that.”

Southgate finished in sixth place at the PGA Catalunya after six nerve-shredding rounds.

Echo: Richard McEvoy – needs a big weekend

Richard McEvoy

He went 14 under par for the tournament which was three shots better than his pal McEvoy who finished in tied ninth.

The top 25 got tour cards for next season.

The pair will now get to play against some of the best golf players in the world on the full European Tour again next season.