Liam O’Neill was unable to sustain a promising start and bowed out of the European Tour Qualifying School at the second stage.

The recently-turned professional from Oakworth was on course to make it to the final phase at the halfway mark in Spain after rounds of 72 and 69.

That left him in 16th place on three-under-par at Murcia’s Hac-ienda del Alamo course and on track for a top 23 spot which would have taken him to final qualifying at the PGA Catalunya Resort in Girona on Saturday.

But rounds of 76 and 75 left him four over par and tied for 57th in the 72-strong field.

The 19-year-old, who is a member at Keighley and Branshaw, said: “The first couple of rounds I played quite nicely.

“I was four under after nine on the first day but then I triple-bogeyed the tenth.

“I got back on track and did well in the second round. I put myself in some good positions but still left a few shots out there.

“I still hit some good shots on the last two days but went off line a couple of times and ended up on wasteland.”

Having produced a stunning comeback at London Golf Club in Sept-ember to qualify for the Spanish stages, O’Neill was in determined mood to go all the way in his first time at Q-School and compete regularly among the likes of Lee Westwood and Graeme McDowell on the European Tour, now known as the Race to Dubai.

Instead the Oakbank pupil – who wasn’t helped by spraining his right metatarsal in the gym before travelling out to Spain – will sit down with his management company and plan a different competitive route next year.

But he remains hopeful of joining the elite in the future.

“I did all right but I’m really disappointed. I’m still confident of getting on tour at some time,” said O’Neill, who may look to compete in some Challenge Tour events.

“It was good experience but frustrating that it’s not gone to plan, especially when one event in such a short period of time can determine your whole year.”

Ilkley’s James Hepworth narrowly missed out in the same event in 26th place.

  • Local pairs finished in the top two at the Bradford Winter Alliance event hosted by Riddlesden. Keighley’s Martin Cooper (6) and Paul Davies (4) led the standings with 45 points, while home club duo Andy Salanyk (9) and Brian Wilthew (9) clinched second place after a back-nine countback against two other pairs on 41 points.