Benn Barham suffered disappointment in Australia as he attempted to automatically secure his European Tour playing card for next season.

Playing in the JBWere Masters in Melbourne - the final event of this year's schedule - he failed to make the cut and will now have to compete in the Final Stage qualifying over six rounds at the PGA Golf de Cataluyna in Spain. The top 30 in the field will get their European Tour card for 2010.

A level par 72 opening round left the 33-year-old from Tenterden in a decent position but a second round 78 saw him fail to make the cut and finish joint 92nd down the 144-player field. The tournament was won by Tiger Woods

It meant he finished the 2009 season 133rd in the Race to Dubai with 212,587 euros, 38,000 euros short of the 120th place which would have seen him automatically retain his card.

The Final Stage qualifying will take place between November 28 and December 33