The Moortown man finished second last in the final at Pestana, 49th of 50, he was left disappointed not to have done better and even win one of the 18 cards handed out.

"My short game let me down – you can't afford 36 putts in a round, and that was disappointing. I was surprised at the standard – I thought it would be higher," said the former British and English Mid-Amateur champion.

East, self-employed on the sales side in the golf industry, dealing with club professionals and driving ranges, reached the senior professional qualifying age of 50 last month and decided to test the water at the school.

He said: "If I'd gained a card, I'd have had a go on the Tour. There's always next year."

He added: "I went to the school to see what it was like, test the standard.

"It was a learning curve. I played OK tee to green, but my short game was below my best."

In the first stage at Pinheiros Altos, the former county champion shot 69 79 to tie 12th with five others, among them Mike Lord, a former Woodhall Hills professional, who went on to gain a card.

In the 72-hole final, East shot 75 73 73 77 and missed out, as did Baildon professional Ricky Masters who advanced through stage one at Quinta de Cima.

He narrowly missed out after rounds of 73 73 70 73 gave him joint 22nd place.

Former Harrogate professional Donald Stirling missed the cut in the final.

Northern Ireland's Jimmy Heggarty, who spent 20 seasons on the major tour and lost his seniors card this year, topped the 18 who gained playing privileges at various category levels.

Meanwhile, Ilkley's Gordon J Brand, who finished second in the Senior Tour money list behind Ian Woosnam, is delighted that the De Vere PGA Seniors championship will return to Slaley Hall next June and offer him chance to defend the title at a course he has a huge liking for.

The former Ryder Cup man, who beat namesake Gordon Brand Junior in a six-hole play-off at Slaley Hall this summer, hailed the Dave Thomas-designed Hunter's Course at Slaley as a true championship test.

"It's a great course. You aren't going to get guys shooting 10 or 12-under-par, which is how it should be," he said.

Finally, Sir Bob Charles is the latest European Senior Tour member to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

The 1963 Open winner, 72, was the first left-hander to win a major and is the first player from New Zealand to be inducted into the Hall.


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