THE European Tour qualifying event staged at Chart Hills Golf Club saw the course record broken not once, but twice.

The event attracted even more attention than it would normally have done as it came just days after two-thirds of the club house at the complex in Biddenden, near Ashford, was destroyed by fire.

Yasin Ali fired a superb 62 in the second round - only to see Aaron Townsend repeat the feat the next day.

Ali fired six birdies as he raced to the turn in 30 and four more on the way home, but his new mark at the tough Kent course was equalled by Australian Townsend, who recorded an eagle, nine birdies and a solitary bogey in the third round.

Both men were among a group of 24 players who qualified from Chart Hills behind Swedish winner Christian Nilsson. The qualifiers now head to Spain for the second round in the quest for precious European Tour spots next season.

Chart Hills general manager Matthew May said: "There was a doubt about whether the European Tour would let the event go ahead after the fire, but a huge amount of effort went into the logistics surrounding the event, we pulled everything together quickly and the Tour were happy they would have everything they needed in place.

"It turned out to be a great event in every respect. The European Tour were happy and so were we."

May’s delight at the club’s ability to stage such an important event in the golfing calendar in the face of such adversity was endorsed by Mike Stewart, the director of the European Tour’s qualifying school.

He said: "Chart Hills had major problems before the event but we were delighted with the way the club overcame them. The event was very successful.

"I met the team at Chart Hills the day after the fire and it was clear they were doing everything they could to bring in the facilities required to make sure it was successful.

"If the situation hadn’t been acted upon quickly, there simply wouldn’t have been a qualifying event."