WELSH golf suffered a hammer blow today with two of the Principality’s flag bearers failing to secure a European Tour card for 2013.

For Blackwood’s Bradley Dredge, 13 years a Tour pro, and Bridgend’s Rhys Davies, two years ago a world top 50 player, it’s the Challenge Tour or uncertainty after they failed to make the cut in the final qualifying stage for the European Tour at the Catalunya Resort. After four rounds of the mammoth six-day process, the cut mark was set at two over par for the top 70.

Dredge, who was laid low by a virus a fortnight ago in Hong Kong, could only manage a one over par round of 71 today to end at plus four. It’s all the more disappointing as he was one under par with only four holes to play.

It was even worse for Davies. Beginning round four at two under par, he needed only to avoid disaster, but capitulated with a birdie free round of 78 that left him also two strokes adrift.

St Pierre professional Liam Bond, from Chepstow, who had dazzled to get to Catalanya, shot a round of 71 today to finish at six over, so he also misses out.

The only Welshman now in contention is Barry’s Stephen Dodd who is currently tied 39th after back-to-back rounds of 68.