More Sussex players have been attracted to the hard school known as the European PGA Tour.

Dean Plant and Ed Burlison-Rush, are joining the exodus from the amateur ranks to seek fame and fortune. Also, Andy Sams and Matt Norman of East Brighton, are turning pro with a view to working in a club environment, although Norman could have a stab at getting his card.

In the last five years, starting with Jonathan Blamires, the trickle has become a stream. And so far none of the hopefuls have booked a ride on the Tour's gravy train. That is not to say they will not eventually succeed. Youth is on their side and only Steve Graham, who re-instated as an amatuer, has had serious second thoughts and done something about it.

In addition to Blamires (ESN), the 1995 Sussex Open champion, there have been Stewart Crooks (Hassocks), Jamie Harris (Nevill), Shaun Webster (Ifield), Billy Turrell (ESN) and Mark Hilton (ESN). Now Burlison-Rush, who also plays out of Little Horsted, is changing status in a week or two. Taking the plunge a little later in the year is Plant, who lends a hand in the shop at Willingdon.

Last week Bognor's Ryan Fenwick announced that he is going for his Tour card in November. Ryan is currently sharpening his game in Portugal. All aspire to follow the example of Sussex's two Tour regulars, Jamie Spence and Gary Evans. Both graduated from the qualifying school with Spence having been a member of the millionaire's club for some time.

The wannabees deserve every encouragement. All are fired by the ambition that only burns so intensely in youth. Take Burlison-Rush for example. He is 20 and, until winning the Sussex Colts title two years ago, was unknown. He makes his pro debut next month in Brittany in a Players' Tour event and will then concentrate on qualifying for the Mastercard Tour and play a few Euro Tour events.

Before going to France, Ed is hoping to use his ESN reciprocal membership with the Dubai Desert Creek club to warm-up in the sunshine. This winter he has practised solidly at ESN, where he works in the shop, and also checked his game out with Andy Nicholson at the DLG Academy.

Ed is fortunate in getting a couple of sponsors. Battle Orders, a Willingdon firm specialising in martial arts, are helping out. And Ed's uncle, retired businessman Thomas Whitby, has staked him for six months. Burlison-Rush said: "I feel pretty good about my decision. I think I have improved each year and I've given the matter a lot of thought. Mark Hilton and I talk regularly via e-mail and there has been a lot of good advice from others. I think I'm doing the right thing and I am determined to succeed."

Plant, also 20, is not entering the pro ranks until the end of the year. In the meantime, he will continue to play county golf and figure in Willingdon's Davies and Tate Trophy team. He plays to two. At 6ft 3in, Dean gives the ball a hefty crack. He's been playing six years after dad Tony started him off at Peacehaven.

Dean has another string to his bow. He kept goal for Brighton and Sussex Boys and was snapped up as a 14-year-old by Chelsea and stayed on their books for a couple of years. Prior to that he had a season with Albion's kids. More recently he has turned out for Saltdean.

He said: "I used to think golf was an old man's game during my Longhill schooldays. But I haven't thought that for a long time now. Chelsea was a brilliant experience but then we lost contact and golf became my main game."

Dean played for Sussex Colts and had his first game for the senior side last week. Sams and Norman, who helped helped East Brighton win the Davies and Tate Trophy for the first time last year, are embarking on new futures with the latter considering whether to go for a Tour card.

Norman said: "It all depends on the state of my game."

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