RICHARD McEvoy will have to again come through Qualifying School if he is to retain his European Tour Card for next season.

Despite a fantastic final round at the Hong Kong Open on Sunday, McEvoy could not finish high enough up the leaderboard to automatically retain his playing card for next year.

The Southend professional worked out he needed to finish in the top three in Hong Kong, which was the final event of the regular European Tour season, and after the first two days was in a good position to achieve that aim.

Rounds of 67 (three-under par) and 68 (two-under par) had him in joint 10th place going into the final two days at the Fanling Golf Club.

But a disastrous moment on the par four 11th hole on Saturday, all but ruined his dream.

The Thorpe Hall pro triple bogeyed the par four and carded a 73 which saw him slide down the leaderboard.

McEvoy showed great character, however, to bounce back with one of the lowest scores of the weekend to shoot back up the leaderboard and it could have been even better.

He was a magnificent seven-under par going to the final hole, but a double bogey at the last saw him finish with a round of 65 (five-under par).

Even if McEvoy had parred or birdied the last, however, it would still would not have been enough for him to finish in the top three and elevate himself into the top 110 in the Race to Dubai rankings which would have ensured he retained his tour card.

He ended up finishing tied for 18th place overall, earning 20,645 euros which took his year’s prize money up to 178.021 euros and placed him 128th in the Race to Dubai rankings.

McEvoy will now have to play in the Qualifying School in Catalonia, Spain, next month to try to keep his card.

Basildon’s Daniel Brooks failed to make the cut in Hong Kong but was confident he had already done enough to keep his card – and so it proved.

Brooks finished 104th in the Race to Dubai rankings with a year’s prize haul of 267,653 euros.