Great start to Evans’ tour bid

The Staplecross-based professional will line-up in the final stage of the Qualifying School in Spain from Saturday until next Thursday after a magnificent performance in the second stage.

Evans came tied second of the 76 starters at Las Colinas Golf & Country Club in Alicante - one of four venues used for the second stage of the qualifying process - after producing four sub-70 rounds.

The 24-year-old carded scores of 69, 68, 65 and 68 to finish alongside Morten Orum Madsen (Denmark) on a 14-under-par total of 270 and two back of Tim Sluiter (Holland).

Evans, who was 78th on the European Challenge Tour rankings in 2011, finished a comfortable 11 shots clear of the four men who contested a play-off for the last three of the 21 qualifying places.

He will now join 155 other hopefuls in the gruelling six-round final stage at PGA Catalunya Resort in Girona, after which the top 30 and ties will secure a place on the European Tour next year.

The full article will appear in Friday’s Rye and Battle Observer.