SHOEBURY golfer Richard McEvoy failed to make the halfway cut in the first European Tour event of the new year.

In the one million euros Africa Open in South Africa, opening rounds of 76 and 71 saw the Thorpe Hall tournament pro one over par on 147 after 36 holes.

And down in joint 126th spot, the 30-year-old was well outside the field qualifying for the final two days at the East London Golf Club on the Eastern Cape.

McEvoy stood 36th in the Race to Dubai rankings after the first two tournaments in South Africa before the Christmas break — collecting 11,000 euros after making the cut in both events.

Now he will be looking for an improvement in his fortunes when the Johannesburg Open starts on Thursday with one million, three hundred thousand euros in prize money on offer.

He played steady golf in his opening round at the Africa Open, with 16 straight pars when starting at the ninth.

But a bogey followed by a double bogey six at his final hole left him well down the field on three over.

And, although he managed a two under 71 in round two, it was nowhere near good enough to see him through.