THE SKY is the limit for Aberystwyth golfer Richard James after a remarkable season on the PGA EuroPro Tour earned the Rookie of the Year trophy, and crucially a Challenge Tour card.

The 24 year-old completed his campaign in style with second place on the Matchroom Sport Tour Championship at the Desert Spring Golf Club in Almeria, Spain.

It was enough to see him finish fourth overall in the EuroPro Tour, having won The Lookers Championship at Close House Golf Club in Newcastle last July.

He followed that up with second place at the The Pentahotels Championship at Caversham Heath Golf Club in Reading, before then going on to secure his Challenge Tour card in his first year as a Pro.

It caps a stunning year for James, a former pupil at Penglais School, before attending the University of South Florida, and he has shown massive potential to go on and achieve even greater things.

“The season didn’t start great for me, having missed three cuts in a row, but I kept believing in myself and went to Newcastle and won at Close House,” he said.

“Then I finished second at Caversham Heath in Reading, which put me in a good spot to get that top five position overall, and to earn my Challenge Tour card.

Getting into a strong position

“I played too steady towards the end of the year and ended up being eighth overall, going into the Tour Championship, which were at Desert Springs in Spain.

“I worked so hard before the event, and knew my game was in a good spot, but you never really know if you will execute.

“I knew I had to win or finish second, so my career was on the line as I didn’t want to be on the EuroPro Tour next year.”

James, who is affiliated to Aberdovey Golf Club, and a member of Aberystwyth, rose to the occasion as he shot rounds of 68 and 70, before a stunning seven-under par 65 on the final round saw him finish on minus 13 at the end of the tournament.

Only a sudden-death play-off with Worthing Golf Club Pro Peter Tarver-Jones, who shot 70, 70 and a course record 63, denied him victory on the final event.

“After two good days, shooting 68 and 70, I was in a tie for 10th place before the final round, and had to produce the round of my life under pressure,” said James.

“I knew that it was probably a matter of time before my game was going to click, and having my best mate Matthew Evans on the bag that week definitely helped me deal with the pressure, in having someone to talk to before and after my shots.

“I shot a bogey-free 65, seven under par, in the final round to get into a play off and earn my Challenge Tour card for 2017.

“It has given me so much self-belief and confidence. It was a shame to lose in a play-off, but hats off to Peter Tarver Jones on winning the event, he deserved it.”

With the season now complete, the top five golfers on the Tour standings earned a category on next year’s Challenge Tour.

Beedles Lake Golf Club’s Matthew Cort consolidated his long-standing place at the top of the money list, whilst James finished fourth, and also won the Rookie of the Year trophy, after collecting the runners-up cheque in Spain for £10,000.

“This year has been a huge learning curve, I have learnt a lot about myself, and now I know that I can compete at a high level and also win at a high level,” commented James, who lives in Capel Bangor.

“I have the European Tour qualifying school starting on 4-7 of November in Spain, so I can go for my European Tour card knowing I’ve a Challenge Tour card.

“It’s been a fantastic year, and to win Rookie of the Year and get my card in my first year as a Pro is something I won’t forget, but I know I can achieve a lot more.”

He added: “I have a great family and team around me and I feel like the sky is the limit for me, and I can go on to achieve some special things in years to come.”