Marshall's back nine nightmare
Last updated: 30/10/2009 10:43:00
Andrew Marshall's hopes of making a return to the top tier of European golf via the Challenge Tour's Order of Merit all but disappeared yesterday.
Needing a top four finish at the Apulia San Domenico Grand Final in Italy to break into the top 20 of the rankings, the Norfolk professional slumped to a hugely disappointing second round of 78.
Marshall had opened up with a steady level par 71 on Wednesday and got to one under par for the tournament after six holes yesterday.
But then it all went horribly wrong for the Dereham player, who dropped eight shots in 12 holes, including a back nine of 43, to drop into a tie for 30th position in the 45-man field.
Marshall goes into today's third round nine shots adrift of the fourth position that would get him back on to the European Tour via the Order of Merit.
And he is a massive 13 shots behind halfway leader Andrew Tampion of Australia, who is on six under par after adding an excellent round of 66 to his opening 70 yesterday.
Tampion is three shots clear of second placed Alexandre Kaleka from France.
Unless he produces two stunning rounds over the next couple of days Marshall, currently 30th in the Challenge Tour rankings, will have to rely on a good performance at Tour School if he is to get back to the big time.