Lee Slattery’s hopes of regaining his European Tour card were given a lift in the fourth round of the Qualifying School final at San Roque, on the Costa del Sol, yesterday. The 28-year-old from Southport played a masterful round of 64 over the New Course, coming home in 30 to move into a share of fourth place with a seven-under-par total of 281.

Slattery, who is three strokes behind the joint-leaders, Pablo Larrazabal, of Spain, and Thomas Aiken, from South Africa, was only £50 short of retaining his playing rights this season. “It was disappointing to lose my card obviously, but I didn’t get angry,” Slattery said. “It wasn’t good enough.” He had six birdies in the last nine holes, including five in a row from the 10th.

Andrew Coltart’s dispiriting year reached a new low as he missed the 72-hole cut. The former Ryder Cup player, 37, could do no better than 73 in his fourth round and his nine-over aggregate of 297 left him eight strokes adrift when the cut fell at one over par. Joakim Haeggman, another former Ryder Cup player, Mark Mouland, a double tour winner, and Andrew Oldcorn, the 2001 PGA champion, were among the other early departures.

In Japan, Ian Poulter said that a return to winning ways was a welcome feeling as he posted his first victory of the year at the Dunlop Phoenix tournament. The Englishman took a 69, one under par, in gusty winds at Phoenix Country Club, in Miyazaki, as he held off all challengers in the closing stages.

Luke Donald (71) faded down the final stretch to tie for third place with Shingo Katayama (68), of Japan, four strokes off the pace, while Padraig Harrington, the defending champion, was equal fifth.

Miguel Ángel Jiménez claimed a second Hong Kong Open title in three years when Robert Karlsson, the overnight leader, imploded on the final green to hand the Spaniard a thrilling one-stroke victory. Karlsson, who held a four-stroke advantage over Jiménez at the start of the final round, took a double-bogey six on the 18th.

Lorena Ochoa became the first player in LPGA history to earn $4 million (about £2.1 million) in a season with a two-stroke victory at the ADT Championship in West Palm Beach, Florida. The Mexican world No 1 held off a late charge by her playing partner, Natalie Gulbis, to secure her eighth title of the year.