Writing on wall for Stevenson

Northern Ireland's Kenny Stevenson was the unluckiest man in the European Seniors Tour Qualifying School in Portugal yesterday.

Stevenson (57), from Banbridge in Down, failed to notice a scorecard error and signed for a 110 rather than a 76 in the third round of the event on the Pinta course at the Pestana Golf Resort in Carvoeiro.

Stevenson failed to notice that his marker had written his first half total into the box reserved for his ninth hole score. His score for that hole went down as a 38 rather than a four - adding 34 shots to his total.

"It is one of those things," said Stevenson, after indicating that he would tee-up in the last round despite languishing 16 shots behind his nearest rival. "I suppose it could have been worse if I had been challenging for a card when I did it," he added.

America's Steve Stull added a six-under-par 65 to two previous rounds of 66 to take a nine-shot lead into the final round.