Sport

Walton slips in

Tour School: With a six-under-par 65 in yesterday's fourth round of the European Tour Qualifying School finals at Emporda Golf…

Tue Nov 11 2003 - 00:00

Tour School:With a six-under-par 65 in yesterday's fourth round of the European Tour Qualifying School finals at Emporda Golf Club, Damien McGrane moved into a three-way tie for sixth place with two rounds remaining.

And Philip Walton performed a minor miracle by shooting a four-under-par 68 at the Pals course - which included a triple bogey seven at the second, his 11th hole - to make the cut on the button at six-under-par 280, with 81 players making it into the last two rounds.

McGrane's round contained five birdies, and he finished with a flourish by making an eagle three at the 18th.

That gave him a four-round total of 17-under-par 269, and left him in a tie for sixth place behind new leader, Frenchman Francois Delamontagne, who had two eagles in his final six holes to take a one-shot lead into day five.

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"I played well today, but in spite of shooting 65 I missed a lot of putts out there," said McGrane.

"I hit a lot of good iron shots. To keep it going now is the trick.

"The eagle at the last helped, but I missed a good few chances. But I'm very happy to finish that way and it's a nice score to shoot today."

Walton's performance was all the more remarkable after that triple bogey, but he buckled down and closed with three birdies in his last five holes to make it at the last gasp.

"I'm pleased to have made it in. I missed the cut by one shot last year, so it's nice to have crept in this year.

"I've played great golf all week - I think I only missed 10 greens in 72 holes - but my putting has let me down apart from today," said a relieved Walton.

"I improved today with 28 putts, so hopefully if I can manage two 67s in the last two days I might just get one of the last cards."

Michael Hoey's bogey, bogey triple-bogey finish at Pals on Sunday, combined with three dropped shots in his first six yesterday, cost him his chance of survival.

The former British Amateur Open champion returned a 71 for four-under-par 282 to miss the cut by two shots, while David Higgins finished at one-over-par 287 after a final round 72 at Pals.