HAMPSHIRE'S top three players must again face the golfing version of the Spanish inquisition.

Justin Rose, Matt Blackey and Steve Richardson are resigned to returning to the European PGA Tour School on the Costa del Sol next month after failing to get into the final two tournament of the season.

Rose and Blackey were banking on starts in this week's Turespana Masters and the Italian Open next week to make up the shortfall in earnings they needed to earn exemption for next season.

North Hants club man Rose required around £15,000 to reach the magic figure of £75,000, Blackey £20,000 - and, after a strong showing in recent events, both were confident they could do it.

But with the winter drawing on and daylight getting shorter, the fields for the Spanish and Italian events were cut from 140 to 120 with Rose finishing up as 15th reserve for the Turespana and Blackey three places below him.

Blackey pointed out: "Unless 15 more players drop out of next week's Italian Open, it's going to be the same story. I'm resigned to going back to Tour School but I'm a much better player than I was a year ago and it doesn't hold the fears it used to."

It was there last year that Rose took the fourth card and Blackey 41st card to qualify for the main Volvo-sponsored European Tour in the millennium.

There are usually around 40 places available from a field of close to 170 for the six-round event. Former European No 2 Richardson took 33rd card last year to cling on to his senior status.

Sadly, the ex-Ryder Cup man has been unable to reverse a downward spiral on the Tour since he won his third and last event in Germany seven years ago.

Although he was unavailable for comment last night, his wife Helen confirmed that Richardson will be returning to Tour School for a third year running. She said: "Steve's a real fighter. He'll never give up."

Rose, who missed two three-foot putts to secure his card in the BMW International Open last month, said: "I feel I can handle Tour School now but, given a couple more tournaments, I could have avoided having to go back.

"I was playing well enough to make the money I needed, but my ranking ruled me out of the last three events and it just goes to show how difficult it is in a first season when you are restricted in the number of events you play. To make what you need, you need an outright win or a few top ten places, and that's not easy."

The Hampshire trio could be joined at final Tour School by Richard Bland provided the Stoneham club man comes through the second pre-qualifying school in northern Spain on October 31.