RAYMOND RUSSELL HOPING FOR GRAND FINAL DEJA VU

CHALLENGE TOUR PREVIEW

Raymond Russell is hoping to draw on past success at the Challenge Tour’s finale, the Apulia San Domenico Grand Final, this week as he enters the tournament just one place outside the cut-off point for qualification to The European Tour for next season.

The Edinburgh-born man was in an almost identical position two years ago when he entered the season-ending event in 21^st place and in need of a good finish to earn one of the golden tickets to The Race to Dubai.

Having opened with rounds of 74 and 72 in Italy, Russell looked to have played his way out of the reckoning for a top 20 spot, but he carded a third round of 69 before bettering that with a 68 on the final day to creep inside the mark and secure a European Tour category for 2011.

Having struggled since with injury, Russell is hoping that experience can drive him on to further success this week.

“I have been in this position before so I just have to try and draw on that,” said the 40 year old. “I did well that time around. I had a bad first day so I did well to come back from that. There is probably a bit more pressure involved come Saturday but that is why you play the game.

 “It’s good that I have moved one spot closer to a card but you just have to play well this week and that is all it comes down to.

“You try to win every week, that’s why you practise. Your performance will give you the results so that’s all I will be trying to do this week.”

Russell’s maiden Challenge Tour victory came on Italian soil this year at the Challenge Provincia di Varese in June.

“I enjoy Italy,” he said. “It is different here course-wise but I love the country. It’s a nice tournament and a good golf course so I am just looking forward to getting going.

 “Obviously, there are some differences this week from any other week. There is a big prize fund but you try not to make it any different from any other event. You try to go about what you need to do as well as you can, and if you perform everything else comes after that.”

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