Dear enjoys first win as a professional after play-off

Published on Tuesday 3 November 2009 21:50

GAVIN Dear, who turned professional immediately after the Walker Cup in September, has recorded his first victory in the paid ranks.

The Murrayshall man, who joined forces with Callum Macaulay and Wallace Booth to lift the Eisenhower Trophy for Scotland just over a year ago, made his breakthrough on the Minor League Mini Tour, a circuit that is based around West Palm Beach in Florida.

Dear shot a 67 in the one-round Hillcrest Classic and then secured the $725 top prize by winning a six-man play-off at the third extra hole.

He has earned around $1,560 playing in five events on the circuit since heading over to the States after making his professional debut in the Dunhill Links Championship last month.

"It's a decent tour that is well run," said Dear, who went to Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida, and returned to America towards the end of last year to win the Dixie Amateur Championship. "It's not easy to make money on, but is good for keeping the game sharp."

Dear, who has Keir McNicoll, his former Scottish team-mate, for company, fell at the first hurdle in the qualifying for next season's European Tour and has targeted the Alps Tour instead of the PGA EuroPro Tour as a possible circuit for 2010.

The 25-year-old is exempt into the final stage of qualifying in Italy this month and added: "The Alps Tour seems a more constructed schedule – there are 24 events compared to the 13 on the EuroPro. It's also 85 to enter compared to 275. Okay, you are travelling to Europe, but they have a couple of events back-to-back in the same area. Most EuroPro events are in southern England, so that is still a lot of travelling.

"Most importantly, though, the money break down seems much better. I see myself as a consistent player but also good enough to win on both tours. I think on the Alps Tour I will be rewarded more for my consistent play and I can let wins happen whereas I feel that on the EuroPro Tour I would have to try and make wins happen.

"It's all about finishing in the top five on the order of merit to gain access to 2011 Challenge Tour and second stage of Tour School, and I think Alps Tour is the best way to go for me."

After the Alps Tour qualifying, Dear will head back to America to practise while he is also aiming to meet some of his former amateur team-mates when they head over to try to succeed him in the Dixie Amateur Championship.

"Ross Kellet, Stevie McEwan and James Bryne are playing in it this year," he said. "Ross and Stevie are coming across ten days in advance, so we will have some games and bit of practice together. I'm going to go down and play with them at Heron Bay, where the Dixie is held."

McNicoll, who also made his professional bow in the Dunhill Links, is in Florida preparing for the second stage of the European Tour School, to be held in Spain in two weeks' time. "I flew out to Florida on October 19 and will come home just prior to the second stage," said the 25-year-old from Carnoustie.