Higgins vows to come back stronger
Waterville's David Higgins vowed to come back a better player after crashing to second last place in the rain-delayed European Tour Qualifying School finals.
The 33-year-old carded a nightmare 81 in the sixth and final round to finish 30 shots behind joint winners Carlos Rodiles of Spain and Brazilian Alexandre Rocha.
Rodiles carded a faultless three under par 69 to Rocha's 71 to grab the top card on a count back as they tied on 15 under par at San Roque.
A total of 35 players finished on level par or better to secure their playing privileges for 2007 and Higgins is determined to join them on the main tour in 2008 after a bitterly disappointing week.
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."
The finals had already been extended by two days because of the weather and it looked for a while that a one hour 40 minute rain delay would send the tournament into a ninth day.
That didn't happen in the end as the final group finished in near darkness on San Roque's New Course.
Joint winner 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 alongside former Irish Open champion Patrik Sjoland.