Capital stars James Ross and Neil Fenwick aiming for Euro cards

Capital stars James Ross and Neil Fenwick are ready to roll the dice one final time this season in their bid to be European Challenge Tour card holders next year.

The duo are among eight Scots teeing up in the PGA EuroPro Tour Championship, which gets underway at Desert Springs in Spain on Wednesday.

Needing to finish in the top five on the third-tier circuit’s money-list, Royal Burgess man Ross starts out in 15th spot, one place above Fenwick, who is attached to Dunbar.

The 54-hole event carries a prize pot worth £100,000, with Ross and Fenwick both probably needing a top-two finish to make the step up to the Challenge Tour.

“I’m looking forward to this week, to be honest,” said Ross, who won the Nokia Masters at Mannings Heath in West Sussex in August. “I’m trying to keep it in perspective based on how I started the year, which wasn’t very well.

“With the disappointment of only playing in one Challenge Tour event this season after getting to final stage last year, it’s important to take the positives and realise that this week is a good opportunity to play well.

“To have had a win on this tour has given me some confidence in my game and I know I can do it. So, if I stick to my plan and stay nice and relaxed out there, then that’s all I can do.

“Obviously all of these guys can play this week so, to win it, you’ll have to go pretty low and get a bit of luck along the way as well. No reason that can’t be me, so we’ll see how it goes.”

Fenwick finished second in the Motocaddy Masters at Macdonald Linden Hall in Northumberland and was third on two other occasions during the regular season.

“My game had been very solid this year,” he said. “After a spell away, it’s been nice to come back out to the EuroPro and get straight back into the mix and give myself opportunities.

“I love the course out here. Along with my wife Siobhan and our son Louie, I came out here for a week couple of years back to practice so know my way around and looking forward to challenge.

“I have a good group in the opening two rounds with Ryan Campbell and James Ross so that will be good fun. Top three might do it, but top two is what is needed to be guaranteed.”

Daniel Young, who is part of the Kingsbarns Pro Academy, is the best-placed of the Scottish card hopefuls in eighth spot, less than £3,000 short of the player in the final card spot.

The Scottish contingent at the Almeria venue also includes Paul McKechnie, who is attached to Braid Hills Golf Centre.