RICHARD McEvoy is looking to build on his fine performance in Italy when he gets the latest PGA Challenge Tour event underway today.

Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge, which is being held in France, will boast McEvoy among the competitors.

And the Thorpe Hall Golf Club member goes into the contest having impressed in the Italian Challenge last week.

McEvoy tied for 33rd place after finishing eight under par in Sardinia.

The Shoebury-based professional golfer was able to end the competition on a high, after completing the final 18 holes in just 66 shots.

And McEvoy is looking to take the form he produced in the last round into the latest event.

McEvoy, 39, said: “This will be my second consecutive Challenge Tour event and I’m looking forward to it.

“It was really hot in Italy - it was 39 degrees on Sunday - and so that made it difficult because the ground was hard.

“I played pretty well overall, but I was putting quite poorly due to the ground being slower because of the ground being hard. I struggled to get used to the conditions at times.

“But I finished on a good note, which I also did in the Made in Denmark Challenge and BMW International Open. Finishing on a high puts you in a good frame of mind for the next event.”

And McEvoy, who has won prize money in each of his last three outings, is full of confidence heading into Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge.

“Golf is so unpredictable, but I am heading into Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge in a good run of form,” added McEvoy.

“All you can do is try and play your best golf.

“I have played on this course before, but that was a few years ago so I don’t remember it too well.

“If I can produce the sort of form I did in Italy, then I’ll be happy.”

McEvoy, who will tee off at Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge at 12noon today, opened his Italian Challenge account by requiring 68 shots in the opening round.

Although rounds of 72 and 70 followed, McEvoy finished on eight under par thanks to a final round of 66.

As a result, McEvoy was able to pocket close to £2,000 in prize money.

While McEvoy was in Challenge Tour action, Matt Southgate and Daniel Brooks travelled north of the border to compete in the European Tour’s Scottish Open.

And Southgate was in fine form ahead of his appearance at the 147th Open Championship, which gets underway today.

Southgate, 29, was in joint-23rd place after finishing 10 under par.

The Thorpe Hall Golf Club member, who hails from Southend, won more than £50,000 in prize money thanks to his impressive performance.

Southgate’s best round came in the opening 18 holes, where he required just 65 shots.

The Basildon-born Brooks was in 129th place with 10 other competitors after finishing on one over par.

Brooks, 31, was cut after the opening two rounds.