Local pair try out for tour cards

ON THE MOVE: Peter Lee hopes to play the Asian Tour this year. PHOTO/NZME.

Two of Rotorua's top golfers, Victor Janin and Peter Lee, have their eyes set on overseas tours.

The young golfers will attend qualifying schools this month to gain entry on to professional tours in Asia and Australia.

Janin has already progressed to the final stage of Q-school for the PGA Tour of Australasia, which will be held next week at the Victoria Golf Club.

If he performs well during the final stage, he will earn his Australasian Tour card for 2015.

Meanwhile, Lee will board a plane for Thailand next Saturday to attend the Asian Tour qualifying school.

The Asian Tour Q-school comprises two four-day stages.

The two talented golfers both turned professional at the start of 2014 and are trying to make their mark in the sport.

Lee played on the Australasian Tour for most of 2014, with his best finish a tied-fifth placing at the South Pacific Open Championship in New Caledonia.

"I mostly played in Australia but I also played a bit in the Pacific Islands," he said. "It was a lot of travelling and it was good experience. It was a lot different to playing as an amateur and I'm glad I did turn professional - it has been one of the most eventful seasons for me so far."

He said he was now looking at trying to earn a place on a bigger tour in Asia, namely the Asian Tour or Japan Golf Tour.

"I really want to get onto a bigger tour, and I have turned my focus to Asia," he said. "I definitely want to play in Asia and eventually America."

He said he had decided not to try and re-qualify for the Australasian Tour in 2015.

If Janin qualifies for the PGA Tour of Australasia, it will mark his first season playing overseas as a professional.