It wasn't a good day for the Irish pair at Tour School in San Roque for although David Higgins narrowly made the 72-hole cut he lost ground while another qualifying campaign in the south of Spain has come to an agonising end for Philip Walton.

Today was the day the 155-man field in the final stage of the European Tour's Qualifying School was ruthlessly cut to the top 70 and ties. Those 70 and ties - which includes Higgins at tied 55th - will play a further two rounds and only the top 30 players and ties will secure their tour cards to play on the main European Tour next season.

Higgins had been inside the magical top 30 but today's 75 dropped the Kerry man down into a tie for 55th on two over par. However, the fact that he made the cut means he still has two rounds to climb back into the top 30 - or put another way he has to make up three shots on the field as it currently stands.

The same cannot be said of the 1995 Ryder Cup hero Walton though. The Dubliner shot a fourth round 74 which dropped him down to four over and into a tie for 81st. Agonisingly for the three times European Tour winner that was just one shot away from making it into the final two rounds.

At the business end of proceedings it was Brazilian Alexandre Rocha who took up the mantle to lead the way. The 28-year-old handled the pressure well to card a fourth round 66 on the New Course which moved him to 11-under par 277, one shot clear of overnight leader Carlos Rodiles (75) from Spain and Scotland's David Drysdale (68).

"It has been awesome," said Rocha. "If I didn't love it I wouldn't be here. I am a Brazilian player who lives in the USA and I always have the choice to go and play over there, but I choose to come over here because I like it so much.

"It's a fun Tour and a great place to learn how to play different conditions and courses and the camaraderie is excellent. That's why I am here - I choose to come here. I had a great time last year getting to know other players and places and I am looking forward to continuing that."

Sharing fourth place on nine under par 279 were England's Warren Bennett (71) and Notah Begay III (67) of the United States.

With the cut falling at three over par 291 that left 80 players to contest the final two rounds.