Dusan Gavrilovic, the Studley Wood pro, was rueing one disastrous hole in the final round as he finished joint 30th in the Senior PGA Professional Championship at the Northamptonshire County club.

A top-20 finish would have earned the 51-year-old an automatic place in the PGA Seniors Championship at Slaley Hall on June 7.

Now he must pre-qualify.

After two-rounds of the 54-hole tournament, Gavrilovic was in joint 12th place, following rounds of 70 and 72 for a two-over-par total of 142.

He was still on course for a top-20 finish when he reached the ninth hole of his third and final round.

There he took a horrendous five-over-par nine. He finished with 78 for a ten-over-par total of 220, and collected just £307 in prize money.

Gavrilovic says he needs £15,000 so he can focus on competing in the subsidiary TGS Seniors Tour, where he leads the order of merit, having won the last event held at Berkhamsted.

“Studley Wood are right behind my bid to play on the seniors tour,” said Gavrilovic.

“Any person or company who wish to sponsor me should contact managing director Ken Heathcote at the club.”