BURGHILL Valley's David Park faces the prospect of six rounds in the final qualifying school, starting next Wednesday at San Roque, Spain, to retain his playing card for next year's European Tour.
Needing a top-four finish in the Italian Open to make the top 115 in this year's order of merit, he finished down the field with a five-under-par total of 283 from 72, 67, 73 and 71.
Although he carded 20 birdies in the four rounds, 11 bogies and two double bogies dashed any hopes of a card-saving big-money prize.
Park burst on to the European Tour in 1999 with victory in the Compaq European Grand Prix at Slaley Hall in only his second tournament.
He is realistic about his return to the tour school and the lack of consistency which blotted his season.
"I'm not looking forward to going back but I don't have a choice," Park admitted.
"I'll try to do my best.
"I have not been consistent enough all season and I picked up a back injury in the second round of the British Masters at Woburn, played on when I shouldn't have, and missed a lot of big tournaments."
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