Alan Mew disappointingly fell back down the field after posting a strong early challenge for his European Seniors Tour card at the Pestano Golf Resort in Portugal yesterday.

The Stoneham amateur, who is 50 next month, was just two shots off the lead after the first round of the 72-hole qualifying competition.

Ten holes into his second round, the former Hampshire champion had climbed into a share of fourth place at two under.

Then Mew lost his way with a triple bogey seven at the second - his 11th hole of the day - followed by three more dropped shots, which left him with a score of 76 and a 36-hole aggregate of three over par - good enough for a share of 15th place.

Yet it had all started out so well for Mew, who shrugged off a double bogey six at his first hole on Monday to shoot a two-under par 69 for his first round which included five birdies.

He hit early trouble yesterday, taking a seven at the par five 14th but hit back with two birdies to go back to two under.

Sunridge Park's Bob Cameron, a one-time regular on the Hampshire PGA circuit, was one shot behind Mew after rounds of 72 and 74. High Post's Roger Searle was 12 over.