David Higgins will be plying his trade on the Challenge Tour again next season after a disastrous start to his final round at qualifying school today.

The Waterville golfer needed to climb from 70th into the top 30 to earn his European Tour card at San Roque with a round in the mid-60s required if he was to have any chance of making up the ground.

Instead, Higgins, who started on the 10th, dropped six shots over the front nine, including double bogeys at the 14th and 18th, before play was suspended due a waterlogged course.

With six holes to play, Higgins, on 12-over, is now second last with his hopes of securing a card in tatters.