HARTLEPOOL golfer Graeme Storm crashed out of the European Tour qualifying School yesterday.

The 24-year-old, who hit an impressive 67 on the opening day, had a difficult final day task in Spain after carding 73 and 72 on Saturday and Sunday.

In the fourth round yesterday Storm fought back with a 69 but it proved not enough to secure his Tour card and now he will have to return to the Challenge Tour for another season.

The former British Amateur champion's total of 281 was just one shot adrift of the cut.

Storm was one of three former Amateur champions to drop out. Scot Gordon Sherry missed out on one over par, along with Northern Ireland's Michael Hoey.

But the biggest name to fail in Spain was former Ryder Cup winner Philip Walton.

Irishman Walton three-putted Emporda's ninth green for a 71 and five under par total - the same score as Storm.

Walton thought he had still made it through to the last 36 holes of the six-day marathon, but after a three-hour wait his fate was sealed by the last group.

It meant a fourth successive school failure by the man who sent the Americans to defeat in the Ryer Cup seven years ago on the final green in the final match at Oak Hill.

Paul Broadhurst, an unbeaten member of the 1991 European team, survived by the skin of his teeth on six under.

But bogey sixes at two of his last three holes have left Broadhurst an uphill struggle to be among the 35 and ties who on Wednesday earn cards for next year's circuit.

Broadhurst, who last year had to return to the school for the first time since 1988 and was only 74th, is currently 65th and can probably afford nothing worse than two 68s.

''I was eight under trying to get to ten under and finished up six under,'' commented the Midlander.

''I came as close to a shank as you will ever see with a 4-iron then blocked my last drive. I'd started so well, but the con-fidence just drains out of you."

He is the only ex-Ryder Cup player left in, however. Steve Richardson, a teammate at Kiawah Island, knew he had no hope when he returned to Pals, the other qualifying course, and a closing 74 put him joint 165th of the 168-strong field on 11 over.

Warrington's Philip Archer continues to lead, a four under par 67 at Emporda lifting the 30-year-old to 21 under par and two ahead of Phil Golding, the Luton golfer making a record 16th appearance at the school.