KEY POINTS:
New Zealand golfer Gareth Paddison has been left to rue an untidy finish as he again came up short in his latest quest to secure a playing card for the European Tour.
Paddison missed out on earning promotion from the second tier Challenge Tour by 1603 euro ($3069).
He finished 23rd on the moneylist with season's income of 54,641 euro. Paddison needed to finish 20th or better to earn his playing privileges for the European Tour next season.
His private battle came down to the last event on the Challenge Tour schedule, the Apulia San Domenico Grand Final, which finished in Puglia, Italy, yesterday.
Paddison entered the tournament 19th on the moneylist but he dropped four places after managing to finish no better than a tie for 37th.
His season's sweat and toil - which included his maiden Challenge Tour win in July - counted for little after a closing round of four-over-par 75 left him outside the cut line on the moneylist.
It was a cruel end to his sixth season in the Challenge ranks. His victory in the Open des Volcans-Challenge de France three months ago at the time promoted him to seventh on the moneylist.
However, he struggled in the latter stages of the season and was unable to replicate the form which carried him to victory in France.
One player to make a decisive move in the last event in Italy was Auckland-based Australian Peter Fowler, who finished tied for seventh to move up to 18th on the moneylist.
Fowler played only nine events on the Challenge Tour this season after struggling for form on the European circuit, but his earnings of 59,712 euro were enough to book his place on the main circuit in 2008.
- NZPA
