DORSET’S six-time Challenge Tour winner Lee James has targeted three more British-based victories this summer to help resurrect his European ambitions.
The 1994 British Amateur champion added a second Jamega Tour success at Wharton Park near Kidderminster last week.
And James, who topped the Challenge Tour rankings in 2002, cemented his place at the head of the Jamega order of merit with a top-five finish at The Vale on Tuesday.
“I need at least three more wins by September before I can even consider trying to qualify for the European Tour School.
“It’s been more than a decade since I last had to enter the first phase of qualifying, so I will need to make sure I’m financially secure.”
The 38-year-old lost his European ranking for the second stage after a fruitless season on the Challenge Tour in 2010.
But with 11 more Jamega Tour events before September, James is well on course to reach his prize-winning target. His last European Challenge Tour win was in Brittany two years ago.
James, who is sponsored by Salterns Marina, has currently earned £10,790 on the Jamega Tour after picking up his second £5,000 winner’s cheque from just seven events.
For his latest triumph, James had to call on all his experience with a birdie on the penultimate hole for a five-under-par total (69, 68) and a one-stroke victory over Welshman Ryan Thomas.
And James continued his good form at The Vale with two sub-par rounds of 72 (four-under-par total) to finish fifth – six shots behind runaway winner James Webber.
“I’m pleased with my all-round game at the moment and feel I can win every tournament I enter,” said James.
Next stop for James and the Jamega Tour is the Earls Course at The Warwickshire next Monday.
During the tour’s two-week break later this month, James will switch his attentions to Ronan Rafferty’s TP Tour Series at Purdis Heath (June 13) and Hankley Common (June 22).
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