Jimmy Bullard starts bid for Tour card

EUROPRO TOUR: Former Wigan midfielder Jimmy Bullard is among a posse of hopefuls setting out at three courses in England today in the first stage of the circuit’s qualifying school.

The 34-year-old, who played off scratch as an amateur, turned professional towards the end of last year after being forced to end his football career due to injury. Bullard begins the bid to secure his card for the third-tier circuit at Stoke-by-Nayland, where he is joined by Warren Bennett, winner of the inaugural Scottish PGA Championship at Gleneagles in 1999.

Ted Innes Kerr, the Duke of Roxburghe’s son, is in the field at The Players’ Club in Bristol, but the majority of Scots are in action at Oulton Hall near Leeds. Former Challenge Tour winner Eric Ramsay (Carnoustie) is hoping to qualify from there, as are two fellow former Scottish amateur stars, Graeme Brown (Montrose) and Paul Shields (Kirkhill). The leading players after 36 holes at all three venues progress to next week’s final stage at Frilford Heath.