BELBROUGHTON golfer Matthew Morris was inches wide of aking the cut at the Open Mahou de Madrid over the weekend.

Morris, 41st on the European Challenge Tour order of merit, missed the cut by one shot at the Club de Golf La Herreria.

He ended the tournament 71st after recording a one-over-par score of 143.

Morris said: "I think I can consider myself a bit unlucky to miss out.

"I was not playing well but I still came very close to making last two rounds - so I think that's encouraging."

Morris had started the event slowly but improved throughout.

He hit a one-over-par score of 72 in round one, and then followed it up with a level-par round of 71 on the second day.

However, it was not enough for him to make the final rounds.

Morris though believes he is in good form after getting some help from mentor Lee Bashford.

A month off after a poor start to the Challenge and some time training with Bashford helped Morris find his swing again.

He said: "I couldn't find my swing and wasn't playing very well.

"So I got some help from Lee and took a month off to get things right.

"It has seemed to work as I am playing a lot better now."

The hard work paid off as Morris enjoyed an improvement in results - coming fourth in the Thomas Bjorn Open at the start of June.

Morris will be competing in the Open des Volcans - Challenge de France in Clermont Ferrand this week.