SOUTHAMPTON pro Richard Bland finished tied second in the Challenge Tour Grand Final today, after a frantic finish.

Bland shot a round of three-under on the final day to give him a total of 16-under for the tournament.

It looked as though the Stoneham golfer was going to finish in a tie for first and face a playoff, but Argentinian Estanislao Goya birdied four of the last five holes to win by a shot.

Agonisingly for Bland, the result means he falls just short of a top ten finish in the Challenge Tour order of merit.

However, it is still good enough to secure a European Tour card for next season and avoid another trip to qualifying school.

For full story, don't miss this Tuesday's Daily Echo.