Drysdale faces 'grind' again after falling short

Published on Monday 27 October 2008 09:20

LOTHIANS golfer David Drysdale will spend the next fortnight honing his short game ahead of another assault on the European Tour's qualifying school in Spain.

The 33-year-old ended his Challenge Tour season with a one-under 70 in the Apulia San Domenico Grand Final in Italy on Saturday to finish in a share of 26th with a three-under 281 behind eventual winner Estanislao Goya of Argentina, who birdied the final hole to pip English duo Richard Bland and John E Morgan to the title with a 17-under 267.

Having failed to gain his card for the main circuit through the Challenge Tour rankings, Drysdale will now turn his attention to the six-round q-school final in Girona next month and the Dunbar man said: "My wedge play and my putting is just not good enough at the moment and I'm not scoring.

"I'll be working hard on that area of my game over the next couple of weeks to get it sharp for the school. It's a grind of a tournament and completely different to any other event but I'm used to it now unfortunately and I'll just have to get focused for another go at it."

&#149 SCOTLAND'S Catriona Matthew closed with a slightly disappointing round of four-over-par 76 and had to settle for a tie for 28th place in the inaugural Grand China Open at Hainan Island. The North Berwick golfer finished on even par as veteran Swede Helen Alfredsson swept to victory after a terrific last-day 65.