Sean Quinlivan failed to win his European Tour card at Guadalmina yesterday but showed that he is an outstanding prospect for the future. Not surprisingly, the 22-yearold from Ballybunion, who had to equal or better the level par aggregate of 288 to qualify, found the task of playing the inward nine holes in 31 beyond him. But so did 22 of the 26 who stayed on to complete the weather-shortened final stage.

Only Spaniard Francisco Cea (70), Swede Johan Rystrom (70) and American Tom Gillis (69) managed to join the 40 players who had secured their cards on Tuesday.

Quinlivan, who reported to start his last round on Monday, was five over par after nine holes before rain stopped play on Tuesday. He finished with a 78 for a seven over total of 295 and 106th place.

When he returned to complete his round yesterday, ironically in brilliant sunshine, the former boys and youths international raised his hopes by chipping in for a birdie at the 11th.

Ahead lay the easiest stretch of the course and par fives at the 16th and 17th. But the 13th proved doubly unlucky when he was too strong with his pitch and fluffed two recovery chips to take six. His last chance disappeared when he failed to hole out from six feet for a birdie four at the 16th and then he drove into a water hazard to take six at the 17th.

"I was disappointed at the way my week finished, especially after I had shot 68 to be only one over. Maybe it is a blessing in disguise. Now I will get a full year on the Challenge Tour and perhaps that will be better experience for me than going straight onto the Tour. I will play in everything I can."

On Tuesday Francis Howley was awarded card number 16 for his three under par 285, while David Higgins was ranked 24 for his 286 total. Richard Coughlan took 33rd place for his one under par 287 while Ballymena-born Cameron Clark qualified in 31st place.

Stephen Hamill missed out in 77th on 291 and Ulsterman Jim Carvill took 126th place after finishing yesterday with a 73 for 298. John Murray withdrew after playing three rounds and was unranked. Dutchman Chris Van der Velde took the number one card after a closing 69 at San Roque for an eight under par total of 280. Fellow countryman Robert-Jan Derksen, England's Phil Golding, and Swede Frendrik Henge also finished on 280.

The four final qualifying competitions for the 2001 British Open at Royal Lytham will be staged at St Annes Old Links, Fairhaven, Hillside and the Southport and Ainsdale club.