Walton on verge of Tour return

Ireland’s Philip Walton, Europe’s match-winner in the 1985 Ryder Cup, reeled off 12 pars in a row to stay at four over and remain on course for a return to the European tour five years after he lost his card.

The top 35 players and ties earn cards for next season’s circuit.

The top two at today’s fifth and penultimate round at San Roque in Spain remain France’s Francois Delamontagne and England’s Simon Wakefield.

They are eight under and seven under respectively after eight holes.

American Gregory Hanrahan was disqualified for not appearing on the tee. He had made the 72-hole cut right on the limit of 10 over par.