Europe’s finest fail to pass test

THE European Tour School is an annual end of season exercise that tries the hearts and minds of young and old alike.

There’s both agony and ecstasy to be experienced in abundance and in the chill of southern Spain yesterday it was very much a case of the former for some of Europe’s finest. The 156-strong field at San Roque was reduced to 70 and ties. Among those who saw their interest terminated were a couple of outstanding Ryder Cup players: Peter Baker of England and Ireland’s Philip Walton, along with one of the Tour’s most respected members, Roger Chapman.

And then there was the self inflicted dagger to the heart by the Frenchman Gregory Bourdy. At the par five 17th on the Old Course, his ball was moved approximately an inch by the wind on the exposed green. Instead of playing it where it rested, he replaced the ball, holed out for a bogey six and having parred the 18th, signed his card for a 74. A few minutes later, he spoke with tournament director Jose-Maria Zamorra and mentioned the incident at the 17th. Sadly, the official was left with no option but to disqualify Bourdy because he had signed for the wrong score.