The Rookie: I suppose it was a case of mixed feelings over the last few weeks. I came through the qualifier at Enville quite comfortably and this allowed me a start along with 239 other hopefuls in the EuroPro tour qualifying school at Saunton in Devon, writes Stephen Browne.

It started so well at Enville, par at the first couple of holes and then eagle, birdie, birdie to be four under after five holes. After rounds of 70 and 75 I finished joint fifth. There was a good Irish presence at the school and it was with one of my amateur team-mates, Gary Cullen, that I headed for Saunton.

We had taken my car over to England but Gary, who loves driving, insisted on taking the wheel everywhere we went. That was fine by me as the more relaxation I can get the better. Between the two tournaments it meant two weeks away. We played three practice rounds because the school would be played over the two courses at Saunton (East and West), both ranked in the top 100 in Britain and Ireland.

It was a beautiful place with amazing scenery, great beaches and peaceful hamlets. Gary and myself whiled away the time when not practising by playing snooker. I am no mug when it comes to the green baize. I have represented Hermitage and have had the odd half century.

Boy, though, did I have my eye wiped. Gary is an excellent snooker player who has had plenty of century breaks. He was asked to play for Dublin last year but had to decline because it coincided with a golf tournament. Every time I gave him half an opportunity he'd rattle off a half-century plus.

Even though I was on the receiving end it was a pleasure to watch him play. He gave me 60 in each of the frames but could wipe that out in a single visit to the table. I refuse to reveal how much money it cost me but suffice it to say that it cost me several dinners.

Believe me, feeding a 6ft 5in, 17-stone plus monster is a drain on the wallet. Speaking of food, it proved a terrible week for another Irishman, Conor Mallon. He returned to Europe this season to play golf, having been on the Hooters tour in America but was struck down by food poisoning.

He shot 75 the first day, an excellent effort on the tougher of the two courses, and that night went out for a meal with myself, Gary and Eamonn Brady. The four of us had an identical meal, half a roast chicken with the trimmings. That night he ended up very ill and we were concerned whether he should even try and play the following day.

He felt that having had a good score he owed it to himself to try. He was still very bad that morning and missed the cut.

My own problems were confined to the course, particularly the first day. I was just a little unlucky on a couple of occasions but it finally came to a head on the 14th. My ball kicked left into a bunker, but I had no stance. I somehow managed to get the ball out but it spun back and fell into the exact same spot.

This time I could only move it a couple of feet before extricating myself with a third shot. I got up and down for a double-bogey six. I ended up missing the two-round cut by a single shot. Eamonn (31st) and Gary (tied 91st) qualified, with Eamonn winning one of the 80 cards on offer.

I hope to get into several tournaments on the Europro tour and do well to improve my status. However my goals are really fixed on the Challenge Tour for which I am hoping to get several invitations. The problem is that I won't know about getting into a tournament until a couple of days before it so I have a bag packed and ready to go all the time.

Ironically, if I was still an amateur I would be playing much more golf than I am doing at the moment. I have played only three tournaments since the start of the season, in South Africa, Kenya and Zambia. The Challenge tour is in Italy this week - Michael Hoey plays his first tournament as a professional - and I am still hoping to get a late call.

I will play at South County golf club today for the official opening, a super occasion as I am to be their touring professional.

In an interview with John O'Sullivan