One costly round brings Stewart's campaign to an end
GRANTOWN golfer Duncan Stewart's season has said his performance in Ireland has almost summed up his entire season.
The 34 year-old went into the Monaghan Irish Challenge at Concra Wood Golf Club in County Monaghan needing to finish in the top five to continue his 2018 season in China and then in the United Arab Emirates on the 2018 PGA Challenge Tour.
Stewart got off to a flying start but it has been a rollercoaster of a season where much of his good work has been undone by inconsistencies.
And a second day 78 was to prove costly.
In the end he finished tied 38th after carding weekend rounds of 73 and 71 for a combined 290.
Stewart said: "It was pretty frustrating and almost summed up my season.
"I was going along lovely after 27 holes then a disappointing back nine virtually put paid to any chance I had of finishing in the top five.
"It was a very tough but good course and the weather was cold wet and windy for the most of the week which made the scoring tough.
"I've finished 80th on the Order of Merit which means I will get in 80 to 90 per cent of the events next year but I still have the Qualifying School in November where I can improve my status on the Challenge Tour or even gain my European Tour card.
"This season hasn't gone to plan yet but hopefully I can can play well at the Q school and still get my European Tour card for next year."
Prior to Ireland Stewart missed six cuts in his previous last seven events which damaged his hopes.
On several occasion he was left stranded one shot off the cut.
Englishman Oliver Wilson claimed his second European Challenge Tour title of the season, winning the Monaghan Irish Challenge by two shots.
Wilson, who triumphed at the Swedish Challenge hosted by Robert Karlsson in August, shot a final round of 69, three under par, to become a two-time Challenge Tour winner and move to 15th on the Road to Ras Al Khaimah.
He said: "This course is such a good test that I had to keep hitting good shots and I managed to do that, and it wasn't too stressful coming up the last."
