BLAKE Windred hopes to save his best for last - a European Tour card hinges on it.
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Windred will tee up in the $700,000 Challenge Tour Grand Final in Mallorca starting Thursday.
The top 45 ranked players after 25 Challenge Tour events progressed to the final.
Windred was 39th with $69,881 in prizemoney from 19 events. The top 20 earn promotion to the main European tour next year.
"Regardless of where you are in the top 45, if you finish top-three this week you make enough money to get a tour card," Windred said. "I'm obviously looking to do that. You just have to play the best golf you can possibly play. If I can do that I will be right."
Windred missed only one cut - in France - during his first season on the second-tier tour but struggled with his driver at the last tournament, the Challenge Costa Brava in Girona Spain, where he finished tied for 37th at four under.
"I have played some pretty decent golf," the Charlestown 23-year-old said. "Last week, I would have liked to hit it a bit better. I just never got it going with the long game. Those courses, you can't just scrap it around and shoot low scores. The rough is so thick. It is set up for ball strikers.
"The putter is probably best it has ever been. My short game is good and I'm looking forward to the final."
Regardless of what happens in Mallorca, Windred will be on a flight back to Australia on Monday.
"I'm pretty pumped for that," Windred said. "I'm really excited to get home. It has been a long season away from family, away from my coach, friends, my girlfriend ... there have been so many little road bumps. What I have learned this year is that there are a million things out of your control and you just don't know what is happening tomorrow in a sense.
"It will be good to get back to a little normality and spend summer with the family."
Although keen to get home, Windred was disappointed at news this month that the Australian Open had been canned for a second straight year.
"It is definitely a bummer not to be playing the Australian Open, my favourite event, at my home course (The Australian)," Windred said. "There are still other tournaments going on. I will possibly play the Victorian PGA when I get out of quarantine. I will definitely play the Australian PGA and New Zealand Open before I come back over to Europe next year."
** MAITLAND young gun Clayton Small will head to the NSW Country Championships in Forbes full of confidence after winning the North Coast Amateur Open.
Small fared best in brutal conditions at Coffs Harbour - 85mm of rain fell Saturday night - to finish the prestigious 36-hole event at three over and win by a shot from three players.
Local and former NSW Mid-amateur winner Logan Toms was runner-up on a countback ahead of David Newick and Jason Webb.
"The last three holes I knew I was close." Small said. "I thought I would have to birdie 17. I lipped out and when I parred 18, I thought that wouldn't be enough."
Small is among the 100-plus field for the 36-hole Country titles, starting Saturday afternoon. He heads a strong Hunter River team that includes Corey Lamb, Hayden Gulliver and Josh Fuller.
Charlestown young gun Jordyn Ward will make his senior debut for Newcastle in Forbes and will be joined by Jye and Bryce Pickin, Brij Ingrey, Dave Alexander and Mick Wade. The five best scores combine for a team total. Players must be vaccinated to participate in Forbes.
