It was always going to be a tall order but despite playing some gutsy golf at the final event of the Challenge Tour season Nick Cullen came up just shy of earning a 2018 European Tour card.

The likeable South Australian needed to finish in the top two at the NBO Golf Classic and opened with a brilliant 67 to be part of a five-way tie for the lead and in position to earn privileges on a top tier international Tour for the first time since winning the Australian Masters in 2014.

Backing up with scores of 70-71, the determined left-hander entered the final round of the year five behind the leader and four shots out of second place with a genuine chance to climb the standings both in the tournament and on the all-important money list.

Heading to the turn 2-under in the final round and in position to make his move, the magic failed to materialise for Cullen on the inward nine with two bogeys and a lone birdie eventually seeing him to a T7 result.

It was good golf and a credible performance but ultimately disappointing as Cullen admitted in a post round tweet.

“Threw up mom’s spaghetti all over the back 9 greens today #NBOGrandFinal #missedchance,” he tweeted after the round, suggesting it was the putter that let him down in the closing stages.

After another hard fought year it must have been a bitter pill for Cullen to swallow as he ultimately finished 26^th on the Road to Oman standings, some €20,000 shy of the top-15 who earned cards for the main Tour next year.