Evans just misses out at Q School

Golf star Ben Evans can reflect on a very good season despite narrowly missing out on a European Tour card at the Final Qualifying Stage in Spain

The Staplecross-based professional finished tied 36th at the Final Qualifying Stage in Spain this afternoon (Thursday), with the top 25 and ties earning playing privileges on the top flight circuit for 2015.

Evans finished the gruelling six-round event at PGA Catalunya Resort near Girona in a four-under-par total of 424, which was three shots outside the all-important top 25.

The 27-year-old began with a one-over-par 73 on the Stadium Course last Saturday containing three birdies and four bogeys. He followed that with an eventful two-under 68 on the easier Tour Course featuring seven birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey.

Evans advanced to five-under after a third round 66 on the Tour Course, this time carding four birdies and no dropped shots. He was back on the Stadium Course in round four and carded a two-over 74 with three birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey.

The top 70 and ties from the original 156-man field contested the final two rounds over the Stadium Course. Evans’s fifth round 73 was another rollercoaster affair with six birdies and seven bogeys adding up to a one-over 73.

He closed with a two-under 70 consisting of an eagle, four birdies (one of which came on his final hole), two bogeys and a double bogey to move 13 places up the leaderboard.

Despite just coming up short in his quest for a European Tour spot, Evans - of Rye and Sedlescombe Golf Clubs - can reflect on a very good season as he enjoys a well-earned rest.

Evans finished a career best 17th on the second tier European Challenge Tour Rankings, just outside the top 15 who will graduate to the top level circuit for 2015, although he should still be able to get into selected tournaments.

He achieved four top 15 finishes in his last seven Challenge Tour events, an excellent sequence of results which hauled him right up from outside the top 100 on the Challenge Tour Rankings and into the top 500 in the World Golf Rankings.

Evans wrote on social network site Twitter: “A tad disappointed to not improve my ranking at @ETQSchool but after a tiring 6 wks pleased with effective 31st card after 17th on CT OoM! Thanks to all my supporters throughout 2014...looking forward to a rest before playing on the European Tour next season.”