By Amanda Little

Last updated 11:42, Wednesday, 22 October 2008

CUMBRIAN golf star Gary Lockerbie insists he won’t crack under pressure as he prepares to battle it out for the Challenge Tour crown.

In great form: Gary Lockerbie, pictured with the trophy he picked up after winning the Kazakhstan 2008 Open, is ‘in with a sniff’ of Challenge Tour

Lockerbie went into today’s Grand Final in Puglia, Italy, lying third in the order of merit table, but with £1,400 separating the top three, the title race is still wide open.

The 25-year-old Penrith golfer was knocked off top spot after tying for 25th place in the Margara Diehl-Ako Platinum Open in Italy last week, and England’s David Horsey now tops the rankings, with Dutchman Taco Remkes in second place

Securing the Challenge Tour title would be the greatest moment of Lockerbie’s career, although the 2003 English Amateur champion admits the greatest achievement this year was securing his ticket back on to next season’s European Tour.

Lockerbie said: “I’ve achieved my main aim by getting back on the European Tour but I’m still in with a sniff of winning the title.

“It won’t be a disaster if I don’t especially considering that I was about 27th in the order of merit six weeks ago, but it would be the biggest moment of my career if I win it.

“There’s a big gap between myself and fourth place but there are three of us capable of winning the title so it’s very tight and all to play for.

“It’s going to be a small field of 45 players this week so everybody has a chance of winning. It’s going to be a battle right to the end so it’s going to be tense, but I’ll cope with that.

“Winning the order of merit would give me a lot of confidence for next season when I’m back on the European Tour.”

Lockerbie secured a dream return to Europe’s top tour alongside the likes of Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter after winning his first professional tournament last month. His two-shot victory at the Kazakhstan Open – the most lucrative event on the Challenge Tour – propelled him to the top of the order of merit and sealed his return to the European Tour, having lost his privileges last year.

If he wins the Challenge Tour, he will join the galaxy of stars confirmed for next month’s HSBC Champions in Shanghai, otherwise he will rejoin the European Tour in Hong Kong two weeks later.

The former county player teed off in the Grand Final today, hoping for a return to form after a disappointing performance in Italy this week when he finished well down the field with his nine-under-par total of 279.

Lockerbie said: “I didn’t play that well in Italy as nothing clicked. I didn’t do anything too badly, so I’m not anxious about any aspects of my game.

“I need a little bit of luck this week in the Grand Final and we’ll see how it goes. It’s a small field of only 45 players – and all of them have a chance of winning.”