AFTER narrowly missing out on a place at European Tour Final Qualifying School, Basingstoke golfer Stuart Archibald says that 2014 will be an important year for his career.

The 29-year-old finished the second qualifying stage on -3, missing out on a place at final qualifying by just two shots after battling against strong winds at Lumine Golf and Beach Club, in Tarragona, Spain, writes John Boyman.

“It was a massive disappointment,” he said. “I can make excuses but at the end of the day I had an opportunity and was not good enough at that time. I did not play the last six holes well enough.

“I gave it a good shot and learned a lot about the process though. I do not think it is as difficult a proposition as I thought it was two or three years ago.

“I was playing with guys who had lost their tour cards and felt that I was as good as them, if not better. I feel comfortable at that level now. I just need to play my best golf at the right time.”

Archibald is planning to work on the mental side of the game over the winter and may attempt to qualify for the Asian Tour in the new year.

However, his main aims for 2014 are to play on the Mena Tour, which takes place in the Middle East in the spring and autumn, and the EuroPro Tour, which is played in this country during the summer.

After all of that, he plans to give European Tour Qualifying another go.

“Now I know that I am competitive, 2014 is the year where I will have a real go at it,” he said. “It’s going to be a really important year for me.”