Higgins vows to bounce back

David Higgins crashed to second last place in the Qualifying School but vowed to come back a better player.

The Waterville warrior slumped to a final round 81 at San Roque to finish on 15 over par as 35 players finished level par or better to clinch their cards.

Spain's Carlos Rodiles and Brazilian Alexandre Rocha shared top spot on 15 under par with Scotland David Drysdale five shots behind in third.

But Higgins knows that he has the game to make it back on tour and plans to work harder than ever to win back his place next year.

He said: "I played better all year than my results showed. You have have a big week or probably two or three and I didn't have any.

"I put myself in position to have a few big weeks and I didn't finish them off. I ended up here and I have to go away now and try and improve and start again.

"I was probably disappointed coming in here but I'll take a few weeks off now, re-group and get going again."

Rodiles grabbed the top card on a countback, closing with a 69 to Rocha's 71 after a one hour 40 minute rain delay almost sent the tournament into a ninth day.

Rodiles said: "It's been six tough rounds over eight days against 156 other guys who had a massive desire to get on the tour. It is very competitive but in the end I tied with Alex and next year I'll try not to have to come back here.

"There were a lot of quality players and tournament winners here from all over the world. I know I came out on top because of my better last round but we both played great and the last nine holes was an incredible battle.

"We tied in the end which was the fairest result and now I want to go on and win on the European Tour. I have had a few second places and a bad last 18 months. But I have played well the last six months or so and I hope to get a win soon."

England's Oliver Fisher closed with a 71 to grabbed the fifth card on seven under par and become the third youngest player to earn his card at 18 years and 64 days.

Native American Notay Begay III - a close pal of Tiger Woods - also grabbed his card on six under.