DORSET seniors star Kevin Spurgeon was left to rue a slow start in the lucrative Berenberg Bank Masters in Germany.

An opening round 75 left the 56-year-old Ferndown touring professional outside the top 50 and a mountain to climb.

Although Spurgeon improved each day with rounds of 74 and 73 he could only move up 14 places.

Any hopes of a top-20 finish were dashed with consecutive bogeys on the fifth and sixth holes yesterday. Despite bouncing straight back with a birdie at the next hole, he dropped a further shot at the 14th.

Spurgeon, who picked up his second birdie of the day at the last hole, finished in a four-way tie for 36th place on six-over-par – 15 shots behind winner Ian Woosnam.

The former Ryder Cup captain pocketed the first prize cheque of 60,000 euros, while Spurgeon slipped back to 36th on the order of merit after winning just 2,250 euros.

Spurgeon and the European Senior Tour moves to Holland this week for the 54-hole Van Lanschot Senior Open which starts on Friday.

Spurgeon, meanwhile, highlighted problems on the greens for his higher than average scoring.

“My putting stroke seemed to leave me this weekend, although the rest of my game was in fairly good shape. “The target now is to get back into the top 30 on the money list.

“I slipped down a few places after Germany, with the likes of Sam Torrance playing well and moving above me.”