THE second stage of the European Tour School brought joy and heartbreak for two of Hampshire's top players.

A superb combination of scores - 70 67 68 67 - brought 19-year-old Justin Rose third place at Emporda but there was nothing but despair for Marchwood's Richard Bland at the same north-east Spain venue.

In stark contrast to a year ago when the Stoneham clubman won the second stage of qualifying by a record margin of ten shots, poor Bland was left to count the cost of three wretched holes last week.

He went up the last fairway of his first round on level par and reasonably happy with his day's work - when disaster struck. The 18th green is guarded by water and Bland found it with his second approach.

When he played what was his fourth shot, his ball found the green but back-spin took it off into the dreaded water hazard again and Bland finished up with a nine and a five-over-par score.

On day two he marginally overhit a tee shot on to one of the short holes and from deep rough only got down in six. Another three shots had gone and on day three what looked like an impressive 69 included an eight.

It simply left Bland with too much to do on the fourth and final day when a three-under-par 68 still left him 13 places behind the 29th and last qualifier.

For Rose the week hopefully marks the end of 15-month form trough since his fourth place at Royal Birkdale. The former Walker Cup player was back in a nice rhythm at Emporda and four good scores should do wonders for restoring his battered confidence.

Scott Watson, who lives just down the A30 from Rose and Chineham, was also back to something like his best form as he qualified 16th at Pals with scores of 69 72 71 and 72.

The Final Tour School at San Roque and Sotogrande on November 17-22 will also include Hampshire hopefuls Steve Richardson and Matt Blackey and Salisbury's Andy Beal.

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