Ollie Turnill is taking an innovative approach in a final quest to make the breakthrough as a professional.

Turnill has been unable to follow up his considerable success as an amateur since joining the paid ranks in 2008.

The 28-year-old from Barnham is preparing for his last shot at the big time in America this year but requires $50,000 to fund the dream.

The former Sussex amateur champion has already been promised half of that sum by an American businessman he knows through Golf at Goodwood.

But that money depends on Turnill raising the other $25,000 through a crowdfunding website so he can play a whole season on the NGA and EGolf tours in the States.

Crowdfunding is usually used to launch new businesses or fund scientific research and raised more than $5.1billion worldwide in 2013.

Turnill said: “I’ve tried every way there is to raise money to fund my goals in the past with varying degrees of success. “I’ve tried investment packages, corporate sponsorship, offered shares in myself and run golf days but it’s becoming harder all the time.

“I’ve written to lots of businesses but usually the first line of their reply is sorry or they’ll get back to you and they never do.

“Someone suggested I look into crowdfunding so I thought it was worth a go. It’s a bit unusual but more golfers are going down this route.”

Turnill won the Sussex Boys’ title in 2003 and followed it up by being crowned Sussex amateur champion in 2005.

The former Felpham Community College pupil went to America on a golf scholarship in 2006 before turning professional in 2008 and trying his luck on the Challenge Tour and EuroPro Tour.

The Golf at Goodwood pro intends to return to the States in February to compete on the minor tours with his ultimate ambition to earn a place on the PGA Tour.

He added: “I got married last year so golf took a backward step but it is still my dream to make it as a tour professional.

“I’m confident I have the ability to achieve it but unfortunately you need more than that as it is so competitive.

“You need enough money so you can focus all your attention on improving your game rather than fitting it around everything else.

“I’ve decided to go to America as the money is better on the smaller tours over there but the biggest attraction is you have a chance to qualify for web.com Tour and PGA Tour events every Monday.

“If I don’t raise enough I’ll probably have another go at the EuroPro with a view to getting on to the Challenge Tour but if it doesn’t happen this year I’ll have to call it a day and get a job.”

To find out more about donating to Ollie’s crowdfunding initiative go to www.indiegogo.com/ projects/professional-golfer-route-to-the- pga-tour