Barham has never won on the European tour

Kent golfer Benn Barham has lost his place on the European Tour.

The 33-year-old, from Ashford, needed a top-six finish at the Australian Masters to retain his card for 2010, but failed to make the cut.

Barham went into the second round at Kingston Heath, Melbourne, on level par, but shot a second round 78 to go out of the tournament on six over.

After three years on the circuit, Barham now faces going back to tour school in order to regain his card.

Jamie Spence, who won two events on the European Tour, said that Braham is capable of winning his place back.

Spence told BBC Radio Kent: "When you come off the main tour and you go to tour school, you're game is pretty good compared to the guys that are going there from the amateur ranks or from local events.

"He is still at a level that is above most of those guys so it's going to be a mental battle for him.

"He's still a young man and he's got a lot of golf ahead of him. He's a good player and he's got a lot of talent."

Spence pointed out that things could have turned out differently for Barham, had he managed to hang on to his final-round lead at the Austrian Open in September.

"He had a three-shot lead going into the final round, played well, and unfortunately the Spaniard Caberra Bello shot a 60 to beat him," added Spence.

"He was very unlucky not to win that event because it would have given him a two-year exemption."

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