Well, after setting out a plan at the start of the year with a firm goal in place of gaining a full Challenge Tour card for 2014 from either the CT Order of Merit or the Tour School, I can safely say the year ended on a high with a big smile on my face.
I planned to play the first 10 Jamega Tour events to start the season, as that worked well with what I thought would be the start of my Challenge Tour campaign.
– Win on the Jamega Tour at Mill Ride
It did work well and after winning the mini 10 event OOM on the Jamega Tour, I then started the CT on the small island of La Gomera in the Canaries.
A slow start there but my form soon picked up with a 10th and 13th position in the Czech Republic and Switzerland. The 10th place in the Czech Republic actually gained me exemption the following week in France for the co-sanctioned European Tour event at St Omer.
This was a great experience and to make the cut in 3rd place was brilliant! I ended the week well down the pack, but valuable brownie points were certainly earned!
– St Omer Open on the European Tour
I played pretty solidly for most of the season and knew my game was improving still! A creditable finish in the Challenge Tour major of the year, the Kazakhstan Open (32nd), but sadly not good enough to get me inside the top 70 to retain my ‘full’ CT card…
This really was a kick in the teeth again! The last two seasons I have finished 88th and 87th but felt I have improved along the way.
I had to re-group though and get myself set for the final blast of the year – the gruelling European Tour School.
This year I was doing it differently and that meant spending 3 weeks in the Middle East keeping competitive prior to flying to Spain. This, along with starting some work with Iain Highfield of Leap Golf, gave me a fresh boost and a real excitement about my chances in Spain.
(I finished 8th, 9th and 10th in the Middle East)
– Saadiyat Golf Club 9th tee – Mena Tour
As my last blog said, I went all the way to finals (winning stage 2 by 5 shots) and after having a realistic chance of gaining a FULL European Tour card with 4 holes to play, this time I happily settled for a FULL Challenge Tour card for 2014!
That happy face was back! SEASON’s goal achieved!
– Win at Stage Two European Tour School (Tour Director Mike Stewart)
So after getting home and getting ready for a winter in the cold, it soon became clear that from the European Tour membership category I had gained at the ‘School’ there was a chance I may get into the South African event in Durban.
And I did, and what a great way to finish the year, regardless of the result!
T64th ion level par!
So now the season is finally over, I would like to thank everyone again for their unbelievable support. The tweets, emails, texts, and calls week in week out, regardless of the result, are really appreciated, and as I have said before, it makes being away from home a lot easier!!!!
It’s very tough to thank everyone individually and I would be scared to miss someone, which I would not want to do.
But I must thank my coaches Mark Pearson (swing), Iain Highfield (mental), and all my sponsors – without whose support I could not do what I love so much!
My family has been amazing as always, it’s been a tough year with the passing of my father and granddad in what felt like a short space of time, but I sure know my dad was watching over me at Tour School – I sure asked him for a bit of help on a few putts!!
Laura you’re amazing, I could not do it without you!
– Me and Jessica wrapped up for winter
Hope to hear and catch up with many of you over the Christmas period, and if you’re ever short of a player for a game, always ask! If I can I will!
Kind regards
Thanks as always!
Chris
P.S. – I’m also proud to sign with MB Partners (Mark Blundell) who will now act as my management company, this is another exciting chapter and already I can’t wait for 2014 to start!