SOUTH Essex’s top three golfers resume European Tour duty today at the Wales Open.

Leigh’s Richard McEvoy, Southend’s Matt Southgate and Basildon’s Daniel Brooks are all in action at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, and all need an incredible showing to save their tour cards with a little over two months of the campaign to go.

McEvoy is in a group with Lorenzo Gagli and Daniel Gaunt, and Southgate tees off with Richard Dinsdale and Matthew Moseley.

Brooks is in the final group of the day alongside Lam Zhiqun and Joe Ferguson. Paul McGinley, the 2014 European Ryder Cup captain, will have the honour of striking the opening shot this morning.

The Celtic Manor Resort, the scene of the European team’s dramatic victory in 2010, will provide the setting for the battle to clinch the nine automatic spots in McGinley’s 12-man team for next year’s Ryder Cup

FULL GOLF ROUND UP IN THURSDAY'S ECHO