A DISASTROUS back nine in the final round of the Qatar Masters cost Jeremy Robinson a top 10 finish in Doha last weekend, writes Mervyn Collins.

The 35-year-old Evesham golfer was five under par after a birdie at the par five tenth but the round fell apart two holes later when he took nine shots at the par four 12th.

In an ironic twist, Robinson had birdied the same hole 24 hours earlier as he took just 34 shots to cover the last nine holes of a third round 73.

Another dropped shot followed on the 13th and a double bogey at the par four 16th left Robinson's round in tatters.

"I really only hit one bad shot," Robinson recalled. "But the ball lodged among some sand and rocks and I just couldn't get it out. It was a desperate situation.

"If I had got through 12, 13 and 14 then I would have been looking at a top ten finish."

Robinson admitted that conditions on the final day were terrible with a swirling wind causing all the players lots of problems.

The 12th hole had caused the Evesham player problems on the opening day but he overcame a double bogey to card a respectable one under par score of 71 that included an eagle at the par four fourth hole courtesy of a 75-yard holed sand wedge.

It got better last Friday as he picked up three shots in five holes to move to four-under but bogeys at eight and the dreaded 12th either side of a birdie at the tenth, left Robinson three-under with six to play in round two.

Another dropped shot at 15 left Robinson sweating on the cut but a couple of birdies to finish left him tied 27th and just seven shots off the lead.

He moved to five under for the tournament at Saturday's opening hole but his topsy-turvy form continued with bogeys at the subsequent couple of holes.

He didn't play a hole in regulation between eight and 12 as he dropped back to two-under but rescued a shot with a three at 16 for a round of 73 - tied 40th.

Birdies at the third and tenth left Robinson in fine fettle for a late burst but his torment at the twelfth brought him back to level and three more dropped shots brought a 78 and a far from satisfactory Sun-day's work.

"I am pleased with the way I played but obviously disappointed with the finish," he admitted.

"A top ten place would have reflected the way I played throughout the tournament but I need to produce decent finishes if I am going to pick up good money because I am not getting many starts."

Robinson flew out to Madeira on Tuesday for an event at which he finished fifth in 1995.