Golf: Upset in Italy sends Boult back to qualify

Elliot Boult faces a return trip to the European qualifying school after failing to retain his tour card despite a round-the-world journey.

The New Zealander carded a final-round 67 in the Italian Open yesterday to finish with a six-under total of 282 and a share of 50th place, 14 strokes off the pace.

He finished two spots outside the top 115 who automatically retain their card for next year.

The Blenheim golfer last week travelled 30 hours from Perth, arriving in Sardinia at lunchtime the day before the penultimate tournament of the season started, and lying 117th on the order of merit.

He carded 71, 70, and 74 for the first three rounds and seemed to be struggling on day four when he dropped two strokes in succession at the fifth and sixth holes, but again found forward gear with birdies at 10, 12 and 13. He then moved to six under with birdies at 16 and 17 before finishing with a par.

Boult now faces a return trip to the tour's qualifying school beginning in Spain next week.

It is the second year in a row he has travelled to Italy to retain his card and left short-changed.

- NZPA