RICHARD McEvoy will turn his attentions to the PGA Challenge Tour later this month.

The Shoebury-born professional golfer is set to compete in the Barclays Kenya Open, which gets underway on March 22.

And McEvoy is looking forward to competing in the most lucrative event on the Challenge Tour.

McEvoy, 38, said: “I will have a couple of weeks’ practice before I go over to Nairobi for the Barclays Kenya Open.

“I was involved in quite a few Challenge Tour events last year and this season will be quite similar.

“It’s the biggest event of the year - in terms of the purse - because there is €500,000 up for grabs.

“It is an event that I have played in before so I know the course well.

“It will be nice to compete in a warm climate again and it is at altitude so it will test me in that respect.”

McEvoy will go into the first Challenge Tour event of the campaign having been involved in five European Tour contests so far this term.

The Thorpe Hall Golf Club member’s most recent appearance came at the Tshwane Open last week, where he was on par after the opening two rounds but missed the cut by just one shot.

And McEvoy admitted that he was disappointed not to advance into the latter rounds of the event.

“I was disappointed with my performance,” added McEvoy.

“It was a golf course that suited my game really, but I haven’t played fantastically over the last couple of years that I have competed over there.

“It’s at altitude as well, so the ball goes further and it’s more difficult to judge because the greens are small.

“I wasn’t quite on my game, but I shot two level pars and that meant I only missed out on the cut by one shot.

“There were a few positives to come from it though and I will look to build on those.”

McEvoy only missed out on the cut for a second time this season at the Tshwane Open.

And he has been pleased with how the campaign has played out so far.

McEvoy confirmed: “Overall, I’m pretty pleased with how the season has gone.

“It has been difficult to find any rhythm because I have been playing one week and not the next and also been getting last minute call-ups for events. I need to keep match-fit.

“It’s only at the ISPS Handa World Super Six Perth where I’ve missed the cut by quite a bit and I’ve missed the cut just twice overall, so I’m pleased.”