BRADLEY Dredge’s hopes of regaining his European Tour card took a big hit as he slipped 20 places down the leaderboard in the Tour School Final Qualifying.

The Blackwood golfer is tied for 45th place on five under par after five of the six rounds at the PGA Catalunya Resort in Spain.

The 40-year-old, a two-time European Tour winner, was well in contention after day four on seven under after rounds of 68, 71, 70 and 68.

But a disappointing fifth round of 74 – two over par – leaves him struggling to rejoin the main European Tour.

Dredge must finish in the top 25 after the sixth and final round to be rewarded with full playing privileges for next year.

He has spent 14 of the past 15 seasons as a full Tour member but looks to be heading for a second successive season away from the sport’s elite.

Newport’s Philip Price and Chepstow’s Liam Bond have already missed out, as has Bridgend’s Rhys Davies.

But fellow Welshman Stuart Manley, from Mountain Ash, is tied fifth on 12 under and looks set to seal a top-25 place.

Leader Carlos Del Moral has qualified from this event three of last five years and the Spaniard is currently four shots clear at the top of the leaderboard on 21 under.

England’s James Morrison, Adam Gee, Daniel Brooks, Chris Paisley, James Heath and Simon Wakefield are all in the top 25, as are Scottish pair Alastair Forsyth and Jack Doherty.