Paul Cutler finished 21st in the Irish Open in Killarney but couldn’t make it through Stage One of the Q-School this week. Picture Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie Paul Cutler agonisingly missed the 54-hole Q-School cut by a shot at Frilford Heath and must now rely on sponsors invitations to earn his tour card this year.

The 22-year old from Portstewart, top scorer in Great Britain and Ireland’s Walker Cup win last month, shot a six over 78 to finish on 15 over at the Oxfordshire venue in the First Qualifying Stage.

It was a sad end to a personally difficult period for the likeable Ulsterman, whose grandfather John Cutler sadly passed away last week.