Hendriksen is on target for Tour top five

By crogers

SOUTH DEVON professional Paul Hendriksen has his sights set on a place in next year's European Challenge Tour after an impressive month in Turkey.

The 29-year-old is currently fifth in the 2009 Renault European Professional Development Tour Order of Merit.

And with a guaranteed place on the Challenge Tour for the top five at the end of the year, the Fingle Glen player knows he has made an encouraging start after the three openers in Turkey.

He started with a splendid second overall in the Sueno Pines Classic, and followed that up with ninth in the Sueno Dunes Classic.

"I came second in the first one which was really good, because the course really suited me," said Hendriksen.

"It was a tough course, quite narrow, and I was very happy with that one.

"Then I had a reasonable finish in the second one, although the third one (the Lykia Links Classic) wasn't so good.

"I'm now fifth in the Order of Merit, and the top five then progress onto the Challenge Tour.

"But I don't think the top four ahead of me are planning on playing that tour, so in theory I'm leading the tour after the first three events."

Hendriksen – a former amateur at Churston – knows there is a lot of golf to be played yet.

There are 17 more tournaments on the Renault EPD Tour calendar, starting with a visit to Switzerland in April for the Sempachersee Classic.

Until then, Hendriksen is now back in South Devon, having completed his PGA training.

"The training went well and I'm now fully qualified, and hopefully I'll have more time to play golf," he added.

"I'm attached with Fingle Glen and I work there too, but I've just moved back to Churston from Ivybridge and the course is right nearby.

"It's really good of them to let me use their facilities."

Hendriksen – now in his fourth year as a pro – closed 2008 in good form, and he's keen to take that momentum into 2009.

In September, he claimed a share of sixth overall in the Ladbrokes Masters at La Cala and, the following month, he was equal seventh in the Ivobank PGA Europro Tour Championship at Les Bordes.

Hendriksen is now on the lookout for sponsorship to assist his bid for European Challenge Tour golf.

For more information, contact him via his website www.paulhendriksen.com