McEvoy hoping for glory among Euro Tour elite (From Echo)

McEvoy hoping for glory among Euro Tour elite

7:00pm Thursday 26th January 2012 in Golf By James Colasanti

TWO months after his heroics in South Africa, Richard McEvoy begins his bid for European Tour glory again this morning.

The 32-year-old from Leigh overcame one of the biggest challenges of his career at the Serengeti Golf Club in November to claim his largest purse of the season and save his playing privileges among the sport’s elite.

This morning he gets his campaign underway again as he tees off at the Abu Dhabi Open where the winner will pocket 347,024 euros.

The Thorpe Hall professional will be in a group with Sweden’s Michael Jonzon and Ireland’s Damien McGrane.

But Thorpe Hall club-mate Matt Southgate, 23, who also had a sensational end to the season as his qualifying school performance earnt him a place on the European Tour in his first year as a pro, will not feature in South Africa.

McEvoy is there because he has a Category 8 ranking in the Race to Dubai standings.

The cut off point is Category 10, and that means Southgate with 11b, along with Colchester golfer Jamie Moul 10b, have just missed out. The Tour will take in 52 tournaments at 29 destinations.