After four failures to win back his European Tour card, Ireland's Philip Walton today kept alive his hopes of making it fifth time lucky - by the skin of his teeth. The 41-year-old, match-winning hero of the 1995 Ryder Cup, hit a four-under-par 68 in the fourth round of the qualifying school at Pals in northern Spain enabled him to survive the cut with nothing to spare.
It needed three birdies in the last five holes after he feared he had blown his chances with a triple-bogey seven which threatened to be even more damaging until he got up and down from a bunker.
But that is only the first hurdle. Walton lies joint 71st - and to reignite his tour career he has to climb into the top 35 and ties in the two remaining rounds at nearby Emporda.
"I'm pleased to have made it in - I missed by one last year," said the former French, English and Catalan Open champion. "I think I've missed only 10 greens in 72 holes, but until today my putting let me down. I had 35, 32 and 32 in the first three rounds, but only 28 today - so I hope I can keep that going. If I can manage two 67s now I might just get one of the last cards."
At six under par, he trails 14 strokes behind French leader Francois Delamontagne - but for the top 35 Walton is likely to need a finishing score of around 16 under.
Meanwhile, McGrane is in a great position in joint 6th after the fourth round. McGrane fired a 65 today, to put himself in a very strong position.
Filed by Johnny Proby
