SOUTHAMPTON'S 51-year-old golfer Alan Mew was in third place after the first round of the big European Seniors Tour Championship in Estoril.

The Stoneham professional put a triple bogey seven on his card at the 17th and still finished with a one under par 70 thanks to a nap-hand of birdies.

Mew is down in 55th place on the order of merit with only 24,700 euros in the bank and he needs to climb at least five places to guarantee a decent number of starts in 2005.

Martin Le Mesurier (Brokenhurst Manor) must go back to Tour School after missing the cut in the Madrid Open with rounds of 77 and 71. Matt Blackey (Meon Valley) needs to finish top seven to save his card and was 63rd at halfway after shooting 68 and 73.

Stoneham's Richard Bland bogeyed five holes through the back nine for a 75 in the Challenge Tour Grand Final in Bordeaux. It dropped him from 18th to 35th at halfway.