Golf: Nicklaus Jnr joins Tour

Gary Nicklaus, son of Jack, was one of three United States players to make the European Tour following the conclusion of the qualifying school at the Guadalmina course in southern Spain yesterday. He recently failed to qualify from the United States Tour school.

However, Scottish veteran Ross Drummond failed to chalk up a 21st successive European Tour invitation to join 19 other Great Britain and Ireland players among the 43 competitors who booked their cards for next year.

A 72-hole total of level par 288 or better would have been enough after four rain-soaked rounds over seven days on the Costa del Sol, but the four-times Scottish professional champion could not make the three late birdies he needed to qualify and now faces an immediate future on the European Challenge Tour.

Irish Walker Cup player Richard Coughlan, from Birr, also earned a card with a one-under-par 287, but his team-mates, David Park and Steven Young, failed with totals of 296 and 301 respectively.

Sweden, with six graduates, were the second most successful nation at the school. The Netherlands, along with the US and Australia, have three representatives gaining cards, including the No 1 ranked player, Chris Van der Velde.