GOLF:Qualfying School The former Ryder Cup match-winner Philip Walton faces a nail-biting final day in his attempt to return to the European Tour after five successive failures.
A one over 73 in yesterday's fifth round at San Roque GC, Cadiz containing 17 pars, left the Dubliner in a tie for 19th place on five over, but 11 players are on the same mark and 10 more just one behind. He probably cannot afford to shoot worse than 73 in today's closing round.
"It's a long week and not nice," said 42-year-old Walton. "I was defending today and that's the wrong way. I will have a go for it now and hopefully it's smiles tomorrow."
Walton shot 15 straight pars yesterday before dropping his only shot at the 16th for a 73 which took him just inside the top 30.
Stephen Browne and David Higgins however, are in the danger zone at 40th and 55th places respectively.
Browne made birdies at the first, ninth, 15th and 17th for his 70 while Higgins looked as if this was to be his day when he stood at two under par after 10 holes.
However, the rest was a nightmare for the Waterville man. He dropped shots at the 11th, 13th, 16th and 18th in an inward half of 39 and must now produce something special today if he is to make the final 35.
Colm Moriarty is back in 61st place after his second successive 72 while the top 35 seem out of reach for Michael Hoey who is back in 71st place on 12 over par 372.
England's Simon Wakefield and Frenchman Francois Delamontagne continued to top the leaderboard, both adding 69s for nine under par totals of 351 which put them four clear of Swede Peter Gustafson.
Meanwhile after 83 holes of the nearest thing golf has to a torture chamber, Roger Chapman could take no more pain yesterday - and abandoned his bid to win back a place on the European Tour.
Having taken eight and nine on successive holes midway through the fifth round, the 45-year-old walked off the course.
It was something he came close to doing on the opening day last Thursday, but he was given words of encouragement then by former England football star Trevor Francis and battled his way back into position to be among the 35 survivors.
That all went up in smoke, however, when he crashed from 11 over par to 20 over in the space of 20 horrible minutes. Six over is the likely magic number come the end of the marathon and he saw no point in carrying on.
Both Chapman and Jamie Spence, who pulled out after Saturday's third round, will now seek sponsor's invitations to compete regularly on the Tour next year.
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