JORDAN Smith was hoping patience was the key as he embarked on the second leg of his foreign adventure this week.

The Bowood amateur, 21, was tackling the first stage of the Asian Tour’s qualifying school at the Imperial Lakeview Golf Club near Bangkok, Thailand, this week.

Smith made an unsuccessful attempt to win a place on South Africa’s Sunshine Tour last month but proved his mettle by recovering from an opening round of 82 to shoot sub-par in his next two rounds.

That left the Derry Hill ace, who represented Great Britain & Ireland in last year’s Walker Cup, in good heart as he jetted east to try his luck on the Asian Tour.

Smith, who opened with a 75 yesterday, said: “It was a rough start (in South Africa). I was the last group out and we got stuck in a storm which doesn’t help.

“But I was very happy with the way I came back as I needed to to get myself back in it.

“It was my first tournament back and overall it wasn't far off from being really good. It was a kind of good warm-up for the Asian Q School.

“I’ve learnt that I have the game there to compete but I just need to stay patient and keep things steady.’’

Smith remains one of the world’s top 20 amateur players and will return to contest a full season in the unpaid ranks should his latest attempt at a professional card be unsuccessful.

Coached by Simon Shanks at Bowood, he lifted the Brabazon Trophy – the English Amateur Strokeplay Championship – at Formby Golf Club last June and added: “This is my first time playing in the Far East but I’ve played in similar conditions. It will just be the humidity that I will have to get used to.

“It’s a lot of good experience because there are a lot of big tournaments all over the world in completely different climates and mainly on the European Tour.’’

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