JOHN MURRAY failed by one shot in his bid to make the European tour qualifying school finals in Spain at the end of November. Murray, from the Sidcup Club shot a two over par 74 in the final round of Pre Qualifying at Five Lakes in Essex yesterday.

Stephen Hamill from Ballyclare, missed out on a playoff by one shot at Slaley Hall in Northumberland. Hamill returned a 75 for a three round aggregate of 224, seven behind the leaders Garry Houston and Stephen Thompson. Former Irish champion Gary Murphy finished with an 83 for 234.

At Manchester, John Kelly slumped to a 78 and his three round total of 217 was eight shots outside the qualifying limit. Frenchman Sebastian Delagrange led the qualifiers on 203. Jim Carvill closed on 218, Colin McElderry on 220 and Donald MacFarlane on 225.

. Sweden's Helen Alfredsson stepped up her bid for the top ranking place on the European Tour when she fired a five under par opening 67 to lead the English Open at The Oxfordshire yesterday.