ROBERT ARNOTT SURVIVES CRISIS TO
EARN STARTS ON EURO SENIOR TOUR
Bishopbriggs' Robert Arnott kept his nerve in a crisis to book a place on the European Senior Tour in the new season right on the limit mark of two-over-par 284 at the Final Qualifying School at the Pestana Golf Resort's Pinta course at Lagoa on the Algarve.
The top six, headed by England's Andrew Murray (276) and Steve Cipa (279), earned the right to play in every competition on the over-50s circuit.
The next eight on the leaderboard, including Arnott
will be lower down the pecking order but still guaranteed to get into the fields for the less lucrative events.
Arnott was going well enough with a birdie-bogey start and was one under par for the day when he birdied the long 11th. Then came the crisis - a double bogey 6 at the 14th.
But the Scot showed his mettle by bouncing straight back with a birdie 2 at the short 15th
and he parred the last three holes to qualify
for a card in joint 11th place on the limit mark of 286.
David James from Dumfries, winner of the Senior Q School 12 months ago but who lost his playing rights at the end of the 2013 season, failed to make the grade this time round. He finished joint 22nd on 289 after a closing 73.
Downfield's Kenny Hutton will be very disappointed that he has failed to earn a place on the Senior Tour, which had been in his sights for many months.
The man from Muir of Ord, Ross-shire eventually finished joint 42nd on 296 after a 74.
Albert Mackenzie (Saunton) and Stephen McAllister (Renaissance Club) tied for 44th place on 297, Mackenzie with a last-day 77 and McAllister with a 74.
EUROPEAN SENIOR TOUR FINAL QUALIFYING SCHOOL
Pestana Golf Resort, Pinta course, Lagoa, Algarve.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4x71)
276 Andrew Murray (Eng) 69 69 68 70
279 Steve Cipa (Eng) 70 68 66 74
280 Jerry Smith (UA) 72 69 73 66
282 Mauro Bianco (Ita) 71 73 68 69, Barry Conser (USA) 70 69 71 72, Gary Rusnak (USA) 76 79 68 69.
SCOTS' TOTALS
286 Robert Arnott 71 70 71 71 (TG11)
289 David James 71 72 73 73 (T22)
297 Albert Mackenzie 74 75 71 77, Stephen McAllister (Renaissance Club) 78 71 74 74 (T44).
MISSED CUT
227 Terry Burgoyne 75 79 73.
ends