Callum Shinkwin remains hopeful of earning a 2015 European Tour card despite not finishing in the top 15 Order of Merit places on the Challenge Tour.

Had the 21-year-old ended his campaign among the highest 15 prize money earners on this year’s Challenge Tour, he would have automatically sealed a card for next year’s European Tour.

The Moor Park Golf Club member received €59,347 in prize money which was only enough to finish in 34th place in the rankings.

However, he still has a chance of joining the likes Rory McIlroy, Sergio Garcia and Ian Poulter if he performs well at the European Tour qualifying school final in Spain, which begins tomorrow.

“It is not going to be easy,” Shinkwin admitted before he flew out to Girona on Wednesday. “Only the top 25 players get their card but I feel I am playing well and can get into that group.

“It is a complicated format and you play four rounds of golf before the cut takes place. That means you’ve got to be playing well for several days just to get into the final stage. It will be an intense week.”

Shinkwin ended his Challenge Tour campaign on Saturday with a 40th place finish at the Dubai Festival City Grand Final.

He carded eight over par but felt that score did not reflect how he performed. The Bushey golfer worked with caddy Steve Tooby in Dubai and the duo will again be teaming up in Spain.

“He usually caddies for a friend of mine on the tour but he didn’t get through to Dubai,” Shinkwin explained. “So I worked with Steve and we enjoyed it. Hopefully we can continue to work well together.”

Shinkwin has no doubts that his first year on the Challenge Tour has been a success. He admits it took him a while to adapt and accepts he struggled with his swing throughout the first two events.

However, a second place finish at the third competition – the Challenge de Catalunya – saw Shinkwin make his mark on the Tour.

“That was a big confidence boost for me,” he said. “I hadn’t been playing that well but my game then came together and I finished second.

“As the season went on I got more used to the travelling and I had a few top ten finishes and there was also a third place finish.

“I was confident halfway through the season that I would finish the top 15 and earn by European Tour card that way. Unfortunately I didn’t get the scores I needed even though I think I was playing well.” It has only been a year since Shinkwin sealed his place on the Challenge Tour and turned professional.

The Challenge Tour has allowed him to travel the world, to the likes of China, Oman and Kenya. But Shinkwin says he hasn’t been able to see the sights.

He said: “I took my girlfriend with me to one of the tournaments in France, we tried to make it a nice few days away and she could see me play.

“But I don’t think she particularly enjoyed the fact that I would spend eight hours playing golf and then just relaxing in the hotel room in order to prepare for the next day.

“So you go to all these great places but you don’t see too much. You have to accept that though, you have to stay focused.”