Mark Belsham battled his way back on to this year’s PGA European Seniors golf tour at the Qualifying School in Portugal.

The Prince’s professional won one of the eight conditional cards on offer in the final qualifying stage at the Pestana golf resort in the Algarve.

Belsham, whose career has been held back by health problems – including a bout of viral pneumonia – over the past couple of years was among 72 players competing in the final qualifying stage after making it through the first qualifying stage, also at Pestana the previous week.

And he completed his mission by squeezing in on the final qualifying mark of two-over-par 286, eight shots behind the winner, England’s Andrew Murray, who collected one of the six unconditional cards that were also up for grabs.

A conditional card means that 53-year-old Belsham, who lives in Sholden, will automatically be invited to several events on the Seniors Tour this summer, with the possibility of more to follow.

He said:.“I was pleased with the way I played. I struck the ball well and, although the putting wasn’t so great, that’s something I can work hard on over the next couple of months.”
Belsham, who won £1,125 for his efforts, added: “I knew two-over-par would get me in the top 14 and, although I made a few silly mistakes over the closing holes, I got the par I needed on the last and always felt pretty comfortable because I was playing so solidly.”

“My health is good again now and I’m feeling more and more confident as the months go by.”