DERRY Hill golfer Jordan Smith has said that the pressure is off going into the home stretch of the Challenge Tour having achieved one of his dreams.

The 23-year-old has secured a place on the European Tour, the highest level of golf in Europe, with six tournaments still to play.

Smith, who plays out of Bowood Golf Club, lies second in the Road Oman order of merit heading into this weekend’s Kazakhstan Open.

With less than 700 points separating him and leader Bernd Ritthammer at the top of the overall standings, Smith, who was playing in the EuroPro Tour this time last year, is targeting the summit by the time they reach Oman at the start of November.

“When I was struggling a little bit on the EuroPro, being in this position seemed a million miles away,” he said.

“To get my Challenge Tour card and then to secure my European Tour card within the space of a year feels really good.

“I have managed to secure my card for next year so anything now is just a bonus and I am able to just go and play my golf.

“It happened a couple of weeks ago and now I can go out a bit more relaxed in the next few weeks.

“I obviously want to finish first on the order of merit so I can go into next year on a high.

“It is all to play for now.”

Smith travelled to Almaty in Kazakhstan on Monday to prepare for this week’s event at the Zhailjau Golf Resort, having spent two weeks at his Wiltshire home.

The Nike sponsored golfer has used that time to work with his coach, Simon Shanks, as he already has one eye on next season.

“I am feeling really good and have been seeing my coach while I have been home for two weeks and have been sharpening up my game for the coming weeks,” he added.

“I have been testing a few new golf clubs because Nike aren’t making them anymore and I have been trying to get myself in place for next year.

“It should be a good couple of weeks coming up to finish this tour.

“It will be my first time out in Kazakhstan but I am looking forward to it because it is meant to be a really nice course.

“My goal is to go there and win, like any tournament I play in. I am confident in myself that I will be able to do that but we will have to see how it goes.”