Gavin Dear on Spanish countdown

Oct 29 2010 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

IT’S been a memorable season for Perthshire pro Gavin Dear – and it isn’t over yet.

The 26-year-old is counting down to the second stage of his bid to win a European Tour card, with Q School looming again in late November.

He makes for Murcia in Spain, battling for a place in the final shoot-out for a card in Catalonia.

But his morale has already been boosted by securing an invitation to step-up into the European Challenge Tour next season, following fourth place success on the Alps Tour, where the top half-dozen move-up a grade.

Gavin is making for Morocco for warm weather training to prevent ring rust creeping in before his Spanish adventure, and he also has an event lined-up over the next few days in Marseille.

Murrayshall’s former Walker Cup star and Eisenhower Trophy winner reckons he has clocked up more than 60 international flights over the course of the campaign, with fellow Perth pro Steven Hume joining him on his travels.

“It’s been an interesting learning curve,” he admitted. “I’ve had to handle all the travelling and adjusting to different conditions and courses along the way.

“I’ve seen an awful lot of airports over the past few months. Some have been more obscure than others.

“The season started in Morocco and I’ve played in countries including France, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Austria and Slovenia.

“Sometimes you stop for petrol and have to think what language they will be speaking in the shop. You forget where you are.

“It’s been good sharing with Steven and a few others. We manage to rustle up a few meals, even if they are much the same every week!”

The Alps Tour organisation is handled from France and Italy and Gavin is hopeful that an event can be set-up in Scotland further down the line.

“The highlights for me have been winning, obviously. But I have played 20 events and not missing a cut has pleased me.

“Of those tournaments I have played well in seven or eight and maybe turned in average displays in the same number. But unlike my days as an amateur it was vital to dig deep and fight for every Euro.

“I’ve won 32,000 Euros over the season, which barely covers my costs because tax comes off that straight away. But it has been a great experience. I have become tougher mentally on the golf course. There is a different mindset as a professional.

“I might have lost interest if I was well off the pace as an amateur but winning a few extra Euros at different stages made all the difference and ensured I gained automatic promotion to the Challenge Tour.

“That takes pressure off me going to Q school in Spain. I experienced it last year when I lost in a play-off after a drive took a wicked bounce behind a tree. I hope to have learned for that.

“I will be going there with confidence and I feel I am better and more experienced. I know it‘s all about producing my best form when it is needed to progress to the final stage in Catalonia.

“There are five weeks to go and I have to stay in shape. That’s why I’m off to Marseille and then Morocco. I was working with my coach Liam Barn back in Perth and he has given me a few pointers on my short game that I’ll be working on before Murcia from November 26-29.”