Ali Thurlow sets his sights high after securing Alps Tour card

Ali Thurlow is excited about getting his new career started in Egypt

Ali Thurlow aims to hit the heights on the Alps Tour this year and then follow in the footsteps of fellow Stewart’s Melville pupil Grant Forrest by climbing up the golfing ladder.

The 23-year-old Murrayfield member has joined Liberton’s Kieran Cantley as a new recruit in the professional ranks in 2020.

Hot on the heels of Cantley winning the Pro Golf Tour Q School in Germany, Thurlow secured a card for the Alps Tour, another of Europe’s third-tier circuits.

He finished joint-15th in an event reduced to 36 holes at La Cala in Spain, earning pass marks along with fellow Scot Ryan Lumsden.

“It was my main goal all year and leading up to the Q School it was stressful knowing that my Christmas was going be a lot more enjoyable if I achieved it,” said Thurlow.

“It was great to get it done and I enjoyed the holidays a lot more as a result of that as I able to plan a 2020 schedule knowing my future.”

Thurlow, who will start his season with back-to-back events in Egypt next month, is also aiming to secure a card for the PGA EuroPro Tour, which kicks into action in May.

“The EuroPro Tour is my

No 1 goal, but I felt the Alps Tour gave me a chance to play in a few events early in the year,” added the former Florida Tech man.

“They both offer five spots on the Challenge Tour and I’d heard the Alps Tour was a pretty good tour and was a good way of learning how to travel whereas on the EuroPro Tour you are in your car most of the time.

“In that sense, I choose it because I didn’t want to go to the EuroPro Tour Q School not having another option to follow back on, so it was nice to secure this card.

“The main goal for me is to try and get to the Challenge Tour as quick as possible, so I will see what gives me the best oportunity.”

Former Stew Mel pupil Forrest graduated from the Challenge Tour along with Bob MacIntyre, David Law and Liam Johnston at the end of the 2018 season before comfortably holding on to his European Tour card card last year. “Golf is a fickle sport,” declared Thurlow. “You have some successes and also some bad days. But the overall aim is to get up to the European Tour and join Grant.”

Thurlow helped Murrayfield win the Edinburgh Inter Club event for the first time in 2018, having come through the ranks at the capital club along with his brother Stuart and Andrew Ni. They’ve all driven each other on over the past few years while Thurlow also benefitted from his four years at college in the US.

“The good thing about going to college is that you are in a team and the best thing you can do as a golfer is constantly being surrounded by good players,” he said. “There is no hiding place when that’s the case. You can see right in front of you what you have to beat and if you are good enough to do it. “When people are setting a good standard, it stops you from being complacent and lazy.”