Coltart loses his European Tour card

Former Ryder Cup player Andrew Coltart failed to keep his European Tour card today by missing the halfway cut at the JBWere Masters in Melbourne.

Coltart needed to climb just three places on the money list, but crashed out on eight over par after rounds of 77 and 75.

The long trip did not pay off either for England’s Benn Barham, who only two months ago was denied victory in the Austrian Open by a closing 60 from Spaniard Rafael Cabrera-Bello.

Barham, 130th on the Race to Dubai standings and needing to improve 11 places, exited on six over following a second day 78.

Coltart’s fellow Scot Steven O’Hara (152nd) missed the cut too, but Englishman Seve Benson, one place above Coltart at 121st on the table, is in joint 22nd spot and on course to salvage his card.

Compatriot Lee Slattery, who has to finish in the top four to avoid a return to the qualifying school, fell from ninth to 28th with a 74, while Ireland’s Gary Murphy (127th) lies 34th and Scot Callum Macaulay (133rd) is in a tie for 55th.