Last hole tree trouble sinks Shropshire golfer Ashley

Agonising final hole tree trouble cost Shropshire golfer Ashley Chesters his chance of a shot at the European Tour big time.

The 21-year-old from Hawkstone Park looked well place to progress through the first stage of qualifying school when he boarded his final tee of the four-day, 72-hole tournament at Wychwood Park in Crewe yesterday.

But his dreams were dashed when his second shot at the par five got stuck in one of two trees in the fairway.

A penalty drop followed and Chesters rattled up a double bogey to miss one of the 25 qualifying spots to move on to stage two by two shots.

Chesters returned a final round of 74 as he ended on five-over-par for the tournament. "If it had gone through the tree or even dropped down, I would have had a good chance of making the par I needed," he said.

Chesters must now mull over his timing of the move into the professional ranks, while the same dilemma awaits Ludlow's Oliver Farr, who was also in action at Wychwood Park. He missed out on progressing to the next stage by five shots, finishing on eight over despite a best-of-the-week 72 yesterday.

l Shrewsbury professional Scott Drummond saw his first European Tour outing since June end in disappointment. He followed an opening 73 with a 75 at the Austrian Open to miss the cut by one on four-over-par.