Qualifying dismay for Walton after error at last

A final-hole bogey sent the former Ryder Cup winner Philip Walton out of the European tour qualifying school after a day of tension and heartbreak.

The Irishman three-putted Emporda's ninth green for a 71 and five under par 281. He thought at the time he had made it through to the last 36 holes of the six-day event, but after a three-hour wait his fate was sealed by the last group. It meant a fourth successive school failure by the man who seven years ago sent the Americans to defeat at Oak Hill.

Paul Broadhurst, an unbeaten member of the 1991 European team, only just survived on six under. But bogey sixes at two of his last three holes left Broadhurst an uphill struggle to be among the 35 and ties who will tomorrow earn cards for next year's circuit.

He is the only former Ryder Cup player left in, however. Steve Richardson, a team-mate at Kiawah Island, knew he had no hope when at Pals, the other qualifying course, and a closing 74 put him joint 165th of the 168-strong field on 11 over.

Warrington's Philip Archer continues to lead, a four under par 67 at Emporda lifting the 30-year-old to 21 under par and two ahead of Phil Golding.

* Ernie Els's bunker shot at Muirfield's 13th hole on the final day of the Open has been voted the European Tour's shot of the year for 2002.