Evans begins season in India

The Staplecross-based talent, pictured, will line-up in the Gujarat Kensville Challenge on the European Challenge Tour from tomorrow (Thursday) to next Sunday.

He will begin his opening round on the first tee at 6.20am GMT in the company of compatriot Charlie Ford and Australian player Kunal Bhasin.

Evans will be eager for a good showing in the 72-hole event at Kensville GC, Ahmedabad, to get his fifth term on Europe’s second tier circuit off to a quick start.

His main goal for the year will be to finish in the top 20 on the European Challenge Tour rankings and thereby earn a place on the top flight European Tour for 2012.

Having been 36th on the standings in 2010, Evans could only manage 78th in 2011 despite his stroke average and average position being better than in any of his previous three seasons as a professional.

The 25-year-old member of Rye and Sedlescombe Golf Clubs was in the money in 12 of his 20 European Challenge Tour events, but managed just the one top 10 finish at the Scottish Hydro Challenge.

He did, however, come tied 13th in the Joburg Open on a rare European Tour start last January and finish tied second in the second stage of the Qualifying School in December only to miss the cut at the final stage.