The European Tour achieved a first yesterday when it had to abandon the waterlogged Compaq European Grand Prix without being able to reach a conclusion.

Only a third of the field had completed their second rounds before play was washed out, with the Slaley Hall course turning into a bog from the deluge which restarted on Saturday afternoon.

When the deluge continued into yesterday morning to make the course unplayable for a forseeable few more days, tournament director Mike Stewart had no alternative but to cancel, and there is no chance it can be rescheduled later in the year.

Because two rounds had not been completed, too, that means none of the £650,000 prize money can be handed out to the players, although the tour is seeking compensation for them from insurance cover.

No pay-day proved a bitter pill for one man in particular.

There had certainly been no luck of the Irish for Raymie Burns on Saturday morning in the first round. His five-iron shot at the 205-yard sixth carried his ball on to the green and deposit it gently into the cup. But while his second professional ace put him into contention in the tournament for a first round one-under-par 68, it did not earn him the car for a hole in one. The Peugeot 406 prize came a few holes later.

"Just my luck," cursed the young Ulsterman. But worse, far worse, was to follow over the next few hours or so, even though he battled bravely with the elements.

Not only was that ace cancelled from the record books when the tour cancelled the event - a golden victory chance for Burns also went out the window. And they have been few and far between in the past couple of years.

He had dragged himself along the saturated fairways on Saturday afternoon to play the best in the awful downpour and was the only one not to drop a shot. Lying three-under-par, Burns had moved to within a stroke of the lead with four holes to go when play was called off.

After eight missed cuts and a miserable start to the year, he still looked forward to, at least, the cheque which would end his worries about keeping his tour card. Then came the abandonment.

Now Burns has to lift himself and fight on from 132nd on the rankings.

For Paul McGinley it was also crushing disappointment. He had not been able to hit a shot in anger on Saturday, kicking his heels waiting to start his second round after Friday's 67. He was just ready to tee off when play was ended on Saturday.

McGinley was only two strokes off the leaders - Frenchman Marc Farry four-under after 34 holes and Spaniard Diego Borrego after 19 - but frustratingly never got a chance to stamp his authority in an event in which he started one of the favourites for a £108,330 first prize.

And not only did he lose that chance to qualify for Birkdale in one go. Because of the cancellation, he lost a chance to climb the British Open order of merit which closes after Loch Lomond.

"It was very disappointing to lose the chance to win," said the Dubliner. "But I know what I need to do to get into the Open. If I can make £100,000 by Loch Lomond I reckon that will do it. That's my first target."

Missing qualifying for the US Open last week in preference to hanging around Slaley Hall and playing just one round, was definitely not a wrong decision, however. "You can't look into the future to decide what you're going to do," he added. "But not going to New Jersey to try to pre-qualify does not leave me disappointed with this outcome here. I still did the right thing."

Because of the washout, Philip Walton remains in fourth qualifying place on the British Open order of merit which now has only four events to run before Birkdale places are decided. But the Malahide pro would have preferred to play on from his level-par point with four second round holes to come, in a bid to enhance that current position.

He was only four off the lead. Eamonn Darcy was only three behind with, like McGinley, his second round to come. But he was probably grateful his injured back did not have to suffer more Northumberland damp.