Philip Walton conjured up a spectacular finish to his round to inspire the belief that he can regain his European Tour card in the Qualifying School Finals at San Roque.
The 37 year old from Dublin, a Tour regular since 1983 but languishing in 160th position in the 1999 Volvo Order of Merit, covered the closing three holes in five under par for an opening 68.
That four under par round leaves Walton one stroke behind leader Fredrik Jacobson, who fired a 67 – but it was the manner of the Irishman’s finish which drew gasps of disbelief among his fellow competitors.
Walton was going along unspectacularly at one over par with three to play when he holed his four iron tee shot at the 207 yard 16th. It was his “eighth or ninth” ace, according to the unsure golfer, and his fifth in competition.
At the next, he knocked a drive and five wood to eight foot to set up an eagle three and completed his round with a 25 foot birdie putt at the last. Even Walton seemed nonplussed by three holes which were reminiscent of Peter O’Malley’s remarkable finish in the 1992 Scottish Open at Gleneagles, where he was seven under for the last five holes.
“Only five more rounds to go” sighed a relieved Walton, who had never previously had to endure the 108-hole stamina test. “Things were pretty average until the 16th. The ball took a nice kick in from the right bank and we saw it disappear.”
Jacobson, who kept his card in 1998 thanks to a second place finish in the last event of the season, didn’t quite pull off the same feat this time. However he did give himself a good opportunity to win back his playing privileges by opening at San Roque with his five-birdie 67.
He said: “I practised hard last week at home in Monaco. The key today was that I kept the ball in play and putted solidly.”
Among the players on three under par were Scotland’s Euan Little, who opened with a double bogey six then proceeded to make seven birdies to shoot 69.
However there was little joy at the first hurdle for several notable names on the European Tour. Ryder Cup player Steve Richardson sent his opening drive out of bounds and he took a triple bogey seven on his way to a 76. Mark Mouland also carded a 76, one better than Wayne Westner.
Justin Rose, making his second appearance in the Qualifying School Finals, had three sixes on his card but managed to pick up three birdies in a 74.
