CHRIS Paisley and Robert Dinwiddie will tee off in the final stage of European Tour Q-School on Saturday when the six-round slog starts in Spain at PGA Catalunya, near Girona.

Dinwiddie, from Barnard Castle, lost his tour card last month. Almost 29, he has twice made it on to the main tour via the Challenge Tour.

Paisley, from Mickley, is less battle-hardened in the professional ranks. Twice Northumberland amateur champion and an English Amateur championship finalist in 2008, he is through to this stage of Tour qualifying for the first time at the age of 25. His ravenous appetite for preparation has been reported before on these pages, but he has excelled himself on this occasion with his ultra professional approach.

His brother, Andy, also a former Northumberland champion and now head professional at the Hexham club, said: “Chris has been building up to qualifying since his Challenge Tour season ended this summer.

“He had six weeks of warm weather practice in America and he put in five days before the second stage started in Spain. He came fourth in his second stage tournament which finished this week.”

A hefty proportion of Paisley’s time in Spain has been spent working with his coach, Andrew Nicholson, from the David Leadbetter Academy at The Wynyard, who was guiding four players during second stage.

“Chris was the only one of the four who made it through,” said Andy. “Andrew has given him a terrific boost by staying out there in Spain for final qualifying, which is very good of him.

“It will help Chris having Andrew around because he has been coaching him for eight years and knows his game inside out.”

Paisley already has a world professional ranking of 786 following a solid start on the Challenge Tour and his brother pointed out: “Like the rest of our family, I am proud of Chris.